backdrop
|back/drop|
🇺🇸
/ˈbækˌdrɑp/
🇬🇧
/ˈbækˌdrɒp/
background setting
Etymology
'backdrop' originates from English, specifically the combination of 'back' and 'drop,' where 'back' meant 'rear' and 'drop' referred to a 'curtain or screen.'
'backdrop' changed from the English word 'backdrop' and has remained largely unchanged in modern English.
Initially, it meant 'a curtain or screen at the back of a stage,' but over time it evolved to include the broader meaning of 'background or setting.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a painted cloth hung at the back of a theater stage as part of the scenery.
The actors performed in front of a beautiful mountain backdrop.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the setting or background for an event or situation.
The negotiations took place against a backdrop of increasing tension.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41