I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Usage: often attributive
1.
a. : the ground, space, or its contents being or represented as being at the rear or behind the principal object or objects observed: as
(1) : the rear part of a stage or its contents (as painted scenery)
as the curtain rises, a rustic festival is in progress in the background
(2) : the space or ground and its contents shown in a pictorial representation as being at the rear of the principal figure or figures
stands in a graceful pose against a background of peaceful stream and rolling hills
b. : the surface upon or against which the principal figures or parts of a two-dimensional representation or pattern are seen
a study of white flowers against a solid black background
2. : a position away from that which holds the center of attention : an obscure, less prominent, or not readily noticed position or status
the parents stayed in the background during the children's party
pushed into the background by the brilliance and glamor of his rival
3.
a.
(1) : the natural, physical, or material conditions that form the setting within which something is viewed or experienced
attractive private dwellings, all set in a background of tropical luxuriance — Tom Marvel
a hum of distant street noises made a gentle background to the strident tootings of the big … American cars — Mollie Panter-Downes
(2) : an harmonic or rhythmic accompaniment to a melodic line played or sung
a violin duet with a bare viola and cello harmonic background — Ralph Hill
b.
(1) : the conditions, circumstances, ideas, or events that stand in an antecedent, causal, or intimate relation to any phenomenon or development : setting , milieu
made an exhaustive study of the background of the Crimean War
the social and economic background of the Renaissance
police probed into the background of the murder
(2) : factual and circumstantial information that is essential to full understanding of a particular problem or situation
take along a good standard book on British history to give you some background on what you'll be seeing — Richard Joseph
c.
(1) : the environmental conditions or circumstances especially of childhood and youth that form or contribute to the formation of an individual's character, personality, and cultural makeup
Lincoln's pioneer background
a family background of wealth, leisure, and cultivated tastes
a German background on his mother's side
(2) : the area or areas of past experience or concentration (as in training or employment)
a background in sales promotion
a background in medieval history
a background of gold mining and prospecting for oil
has unusual backgrounds of study and experience in international affairs — F.L.Mott
(3) : an individual's life history or past career
investigated the background of the suspect
a background of success in all his varied enterprises
4.
a. : intrusive often constant sound that confuses, distorts, or interferes with received or recorded electronic signals (as in radio reception or recording) ; also : adventitious flicks interfering with electronic instrument readings
b. : the more or less steady level of radiation or sound above which the effect (as radioactivity) being measured by an apparatus (as a Geiger counter) is detected
II. transitive verb
Etymology: background (I)
1. : to form a background to
elms that have backgrounded memorable scenes in our history — Frank Thone
2. : to provide with a background
a richly backgrounded study of a silent movie star — Hollis Alpert
III. noun
: a level of computer processing at which the processor uses time not required for a primary task to work on a less important task — compare foreground herein