background

English Online Dictionary. What means background‎? What does background mean?

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæk.ɡɹaʊnd/, /ˈbækɹaʊnd/

Etymology 1

From back +‎ ground. Compare backstory.

Alternative forms

• back ground (obsolete)

Adjective

background (not comparable)

1. Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.

Antonyms

• conspicuous, foreground, forestanding, primary, prominent

Noun

background (countable and uncountable, plural backgrounds)

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

2. A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
3. (film) An extra who appears in the background, with no speaking role.
4. Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
5. A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).

7. (computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
8. (computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.

9. (physics) Clipping of background radiation.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

background (third-person singular simple present backgrounds, present participle backgrounding, simple past and past participle backgrounded)

1. (transitive) To put in a position that is not prominent.

   Synonym: downplay
2. (journalism) To gather and provide background information (on).
3. (transitive) 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.

Etymology 2

Verb

background

1. simple past and past participle of backgrind

Italian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English background.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beɡˈɡrawnd/
• Rhymes: -awnd

Noun

background m (invariable)

1. cultural background (of a person)

Romanian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English background.

Noun

background n (plural backgrounduri)

1. background

   Synonyms: fundal, fond

Declension

Spanish

Noun

background m (plural backgrounds)

1. background