[bi.as] n [MF biais] (1530) 1: a line diagonal to the grain of a fabric; esp: a line at a 45 degrees angle to the selvage often utilized in the cutting of garments for smoother fit
2. a: a peculiarity in the shape of a bowl that causes it to swerve when rolled on the green b: the tendency of a bowl to swerve; also: the impulse causing this tendency c: the swerve of the bowl 3 a: bent, tendency b: an inclination of temperament or outlook; esp: a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment: prejudice c: an instance of such prejudice d (1): deviation of the expected value of a statistical estimate from the quantity it estimates (2): systematic error introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over others
4. a: a voltage applied to a device (as a transistor control electrode) to establish a reference level for operation b: a high-frequency voltage combined with an audio signal to reduce distortion in tape recording syn see predilection -- on the bias : askew, obliquely
[2]bias adj (1551): diagonal, slanting--used chiefly of fabrics and their cut -- bi.as.ness n [3]bias adv (1575) 1: diagonally "cut cloth ~"
2. obs: awry [4]bias vt bi.ased or bi.assed ; bi.as.ing or bi.as.sing (ca. 1628) 1: to give a settled and often prejudiced outlook to "his background ~es him against foreigners"
2: to apply a slight negative or positive voltage to (as an electron-tube grid) syn see incline