Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈbæk.(ɡ)ɹaʊnd/
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ˈbæk.ɡɹaʊnd
Adjective
Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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background noise
The antivirus program runs on a background thread.
Noun
One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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The lawyer had a background in computer science.
A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close[…]above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. Many insects probably use this strategy, which is a close analogy to crypsis in the visible world — camouflage and other methods for blending into one’s visual background.
An extra who appears in the background, with no speaking role.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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There was tons of noise in the background.
The photographer let us pick a background for the portrait.
The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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The antivirus program is running in the background.
Verb
To place in the background.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Ha! I see Venus’ transit now;—lo! a new planet there;—and behind all, an infinite starry nebulousness, as if thy being were backgrounded by some spangled vail of mystery.
To put in a position that is not prominent.
Usage- Figurative
- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
One aspect of the story that appears interesting is that the alleged rapist and victim are only referred to by name together in the same sentence once. In all the other sentences, one receives more focus, while the other is backgrounded.
To gather and provide background information (on).
To increase the weight and immunity of (a calf) by feeding with forage and grains, as an intermediate stage in cattle production, between weaning and placement in a feedlot.
Usage- Transitive
Noun
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he is a lawyer with a sports background
the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground
- Synonyms
- Examples
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he posed her against a background of rolling hills
information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the embassy filled him in on the background of the incident
extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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they got a bad connection and could hardly hear one another over the background signals
relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation
- Broader terms
- Examples
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when the rain came he could hear the sound of thunder in the background
the state of the environment in which a situation exists
- Broader terms
- Examples
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you can't do that in a university setting
(computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
scenery hung at back of stage
Verb
understate the importance or quality of
- Antonyms
- Examples
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he played down his royal ancestry