Background vs. Profile — What's the Difference?

The part of a picture, scene, or design that forms a setting for the main figures or objects, or appears furthest from the viewer

A side view of an object or structure, especially of the human head.

The circumstances or situation prevailing at a particular time or underlying a particular event

A representation of an object or structure seen from the side.

Form a background to

An outline of an object.

Provide with background

Degree of exposure to public notice; visibility

The ground or scenery located behind something.

A biographical account presenting the subject's most noteworthy characteristics and achievements.

The part of a pictorial representation that appears to be in the distance and that provides relief for the principal objects in the foreground.

A set of characteristics that identify or are thought to identify a particular type of person

The general scene or surface against which designs, patterns, or figures are represented or viewed.

A formal summary or analysis of data, often in the form of a graph or table, representing distinctive features or characteristics

A position, area, or situation that is not immediately in one's attention or notice

(Geology) A vertical section of soil or rock showing the sequence of the various layers.

(Computers) The environment in which programs operate that the user does not engage with directly

To draw or shape a profile of.

The circumstances and events surrounding or leading up to an event or occurrence.

To produce a profile of

A person's experience, training, and education

To engage in the ethnic or racial profiling of (a person).

The cultural or social environment in which a person was brought up or has lived

(countable) The outermost shape, view, or edge of an object.

Subdued music played especially as an accompaniment to dialogue in a dramatic performance.

(countable) The shape, view, or shadow of a person's head from the side; a side view.

Sound that intrudes on or interferes with an audio recording.

(countable) A summary or collection of information, especially about a person

Low-level radiation, as from radioactive decay, that exists as part of the natural environment.

A specific page or field in which users can provide various types of personal information in software or Internet systems.

Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.

Reputation, prominence; noticeability.

One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.

(uncountable) The amount by which something protrudes.

A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.

(archaeology) A smoothed (e.g., troweled or brushed) vertical surface of an excavation showing evidence of at least one feature or diagnostic specimen; the graphic recording of such as by sketching, photographing, etc.

Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.

Character; totality of related characteristics; signature; status (especially in scientific, technical, or military uses).

A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).

(architecture) A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of mouldings etc.

(computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).

(civil engineering) A drawing exhibiting a vertical section of the ground along a surveyed line, or graded work, as of a railway, showing elevations, depressions, grades, etc.

(computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.

(military slang) An exemption from certain types of duties due to injury or disability.

(physics) background radiation

(transitive) To create a summary or collection of information about (a person, etc.).

To put in a position that is not prominent.

To act based on such a summary, especially one that is a stereotype; to engage in profiling.

(journalism) To gather and provide background information (on).

(transitive) To draw in profile or outline.

Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.

To give a definite form by chiselling, milling, etc.

The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures.

To measure the performance of various parts of (a program) so as to locate bottlenecks.

Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings.

An outline, or contour; as, the profile of an apple.

A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.

A human head represented sidewise, or in a side view; the side face or half face.

The set of conditions within which an action takes place, including the social and physical conditions as well as the psychological states of the participants; as, within the background of the massive budget deficits of the 1980's, new spending programs had little chance of passage by the congress.

A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of moldings and the like.

The set of conditions that precede and affect an action, such as the social and historical precedents for the event, as well as the general background{5}; as, against the background of their expulsion by the Serbs, the desire of Kosovars for vengeance is understandable though regrettable.

To draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as an architectural member.

The signals that may be detected by a measurement which are not due to the phenomenon being studied, and tend to make the measurement uncertain to a greater or lesser degree.

To shape the outline of an object by passing a cutter around it.

An agreement between a journalist and an interviewee that the name of the interviewee will not be quoted in any publication, although the substance of the remarks may be reported; - often used in the phrase "on background". Compare deep background.

An analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics;

A person's social heritage: previous experience or training;

A side view representation of an object (especially a human face)

The part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground;

Biographical sketch

Information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem;

Degree of exposure to public notice;

Extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured;

A vertical section of the Earth's crust showing the different horizons or layers

Relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation;

Write about;

The state of the environment in which a situation exists;

Represent in profile, by drawing or painting

(computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear

Scenery hung at back of stage

Understate the importance or quality of;