n.1 the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.
2 the circumstances relevant to something under consideration (must be seen in context).
Phrases and idioms:
out of context without the surrounding words or circumstances and so not fully understandable.
Derivatives:
contextual adj. contextualize v.tr. (also -ise). contextualization n. contextually adv.
Etymology: ME f. L contextus (as COM-, texere text- weave)