backgrounds
|back-ground|
/ˈbækɡraʊndz/
(background)
context or setting
Etymology
'background' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'back' + 'ground' (both from Old English roots), literally meaning 'the ground at the back.'
'background' formed in Middle English from Old English elements 'bæc' (back) and 'grund' (ground); the compound developed into the modern English 'background.'
Initially it meant 'the ground or area behind something' (a literal, physical sense), but over time it evolved to include figurative senses such as 'a person's history or circumstances' and 'context or setting.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person's education, experience, family history, or social circumstances (the social or biographical context of someone).
The applicants come from very different educational and cultural backgrounds.
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Noun 2
the area or scenery behind the main object in a picture, scene, or view; the physical backdrop.
The backgrounds in the movie were richly detailed and atmospheric.
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Noun 3
the circumstances or context in which an event occurs; the situation or history that helps explain something.
You should know the political and economic backgrounds of the region before judging the policy.
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Verb 1
third-person singular present of 'background': to provide background information about someone or something; to check or investigate someone's history.
The organization backgrounds all new volunteers before they start.
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Last updated: 2025/10/13 19:06