Definition of "background" in English

adjective

1. Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.

   • background noise
   • The antivirus program runs on a background thread.

noun

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

   • The lawyer had a background in computer science.

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

3. (film) An extra who appears in the background, with no speaking role.

4. Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.

5. A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).

   • There was tons of noise in the background.
   • The photographer let us pick a background for the portrait.

6. (computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).

7. (computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.

   • The antivirus program is running in the background.

8. (physics) Ellipsis of background radiation.

   • low-background

verb

1. (transitive) To place in the background.

2. (transitive, figurative) To put in a position that is not prominent.

3. (journalism) To gather and provide background information (on).

4. (transitive) To increase the weight and immunity of (a calf) by feeding with forage and grains, as an intermediate stage in cattle production, between weaning and placement in a feedlot.

verb

1. simple past and past participle of backgrind