■ noun
1》 inclination or prejudice for or against one thing or person.
↘a systematic distortion of a statistical result due to a factor not allowed for in its derivation.
2》 a diagonal across the grain of a fabric.
3》 Bowls the irregular shape given to one side of a bowl.
↘the oblique course taken by such a bowl.
4》 Electronics a steady voltage, magnetic field, or other factor applied to a system to cause it to operate over a predetermined range.
■ verb ( ~es , ~ing , ~ed or ~es , ~sing , ~sed )
1》 influence unfairly; prejudice.
2》 Electronics give a ~ to.
Origin
C16 (in the sense 'oblique line'): from Fr. biais , from Provençal.