/ ˈkɒntekst; NAmE ˈkɑːn-/ noun [ C , U ]
1.
the situation in which sth happens and that helps you to understand it :
This speech needs to be set in the context of Britain in the 1960s.
His decision can only be understood in context .
2.
the words that come just before and after a word, phrase or statement and help you to understand its meaning :
You should be able to guess the meaning of the word from the context.
This quotation has been taken out of context (= repeated without giving the circumstances in which it was said) .
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (denoting the construction of a text): from Latin contextus , from con- together + texere to weave.