See Also: Background(money)
background(dictionary)
background(dictionary)
background level(medicine)
background radiation(medicine)
background retinopathy(medicine)
Background Retinopathy(health)
cosmic background radiation(encyclopedia)

background (oh)



[C] someone's family, education, previous work etc
::Steve has a background in computer engineering.
::Students with a background in chemistry will probably find the course easier.
:: It's important to understand other people, people from different backgrounds .
::people from different ethnic and social backgrounds
:: Cultural background might account for some of the variations noted in the studies.
:: the educational background of top executives
:: They told me everything there was to know about the child's family background .
:: a program that helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds
[U and C] the situation or past events that explain why something happens in the way that it does
background to
::Without knowing the background to the case, I couldn't possibly comment.
against a background of sth
::The peace talks are being held against a background of increasing violence.
background information/details/data etc
::The author included a new chapter of background material for the second edition of the book.
[C usually singular] the area that is behind the main thing that you are looking at, especially in a picture
::The background looks a little out of focus.
in the background
::In the background you can see a few of my old college friends.
[C] the pattern or colour on top of which something has been drawn, printed etc
::red lettering on a white background
in the background
someone who keeps or stays in the background tries not to be noticed
::The President's advisors are content to remain in the background.
[U and C] the sounds that you can hear apart from the main thing that you are listening to
in the background
::In the background I could hear the sound of traffic.
::All of the background noise made it difficult to have a phone conversation.
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COLLOCATES for sense 1
have a background (in something)
with a background (in something)
(be/come) from different backgrounds
social background
cultural background
educational background
ethnic background
family background
class background
deprived/disadvantaged background (=not having many advantages)
privileged background (=having many advantages)
working-class/middle-class background