To keep in the background
(gcide) | background \back"ground`\, n. [Back, a. + ground.]
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1. Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as
opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.
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2. (Paint.) The space which is behind and subordinate to a
portrait or group of figures.
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Note: The distance in a picture is usually divided into
foreground, middle distance, and background.
--Fairholt.
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3. Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a
background of red hangings.
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4. A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.
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I fancy there was a background of grinding and
waiting before Miss Torry could produce this highly
finished . . . performance. --Mrs.
Alexander.
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A husband somewhere in the background. --Thackeray.
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5. 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.
[PJC]
6. 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.
[PJC]
7. (Science) 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. Specifically: (Physics)
Electronic noise present in a system using electronic
measuring instrument or in a telecommunications system,
which may hide and which must be differentiated from the
desired signal; also called background noise or noise.
[PJC]
8. (Journalism) 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.
[PJC]
To place in the background, to make of little consequence.
To keep in the background, to remain unobtrusive,
inconspicuous or out of sight; -- of people.
deep background, (Journalism) the status of an interview
which must not be quoted in a publication, even without
attribution. Compare background[8].
[1913 Webster +PJC] |