Background vs. Surroundings — 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

Surroundings are the area around a given physical or geographical point or place. The exact definition depends on the field.

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

Plural of surrounding

Form a background to

The area surrounding someone or something, together with the objects and circumstances in the vicinity; the environment or ambiance.

Provide with background

(physics) All parts of the universe that are not within the thermodynamic system of interest.

The ground or scenery located behind something.

The environmental condition

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

The area in which something exists or lives;

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

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

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

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

A person's experience, training, and education

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

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

Sound that intrudes on or interferes with an audio recording.

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

Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(physics) background radiation

To put in a position that is not prominent.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem;

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

Relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation;

The state of the environment in which a situation exists;

(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;