background

1. background (adj) — sense 1

Definition: Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.

Example: background noise

2. background (noun) — sense 2

Definition: One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.

Example: The lawyer had a background in computer science.

3. background (noun) — sense 3

Definition: A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.

Example: Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close[…]above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. Many insects probably use this strategy, which is a close analogy to crypsis in the visible world — camouflage and other methods for blending into one’s visual background.

4. background (noun) — sense 4

Definition: An extra who appears in the background, with no speaking role.

5. background (verb) — sense 5

Definition: To place in the background.

Example: Ha! I see Venus’ transit now;—lo! a new planet there;—and behind all, an infinite starry nebulousness, as if thy being were backgrounded by some spangled vail of mystery.

6. background (verb) — sense 6

Definition: To put in a position that is not prominent.

Example: One aspect of the story that appears interesting is that the alleged rapist and victim are only referred to by name together in the same sentence once. In all the other sentences, one receives more focus, while the other is backgrounded.

7. background (verb) — sense 7

Definition: To gather and provide background information (on).