Background | Mean of background in English Dictionary

/ˈbækˌgraʊnd/

• Noun
• the part of a scene or picture that is farthest from the viewer
1. Objects in the foreground are drawn larger than those in the background.
2. a photograph of a house with mountains in the background
3. The mountains provided a perfect background [=backdrop] for the wedding photos.
4. background scenery
• a surface or color that is behind or around something (such as a printed design)
1. red letters printed on a white background
2. a background color
• a position that attracts little attention
1. He was a shy man who always tried to keep/stay in the background. [=tried to avoid attracting attention]
2. The war has pushed all other issues into the background. [=has made all other issues less important]
3. An ethnic conflict that was simmering away in the background finally erupted into civil war.

• the events and conditions that help to explain why something happens
1. We learned about the social and economic background of the American Civil War.
2. The meetings took place against a background of increasing tension.
• information needed to understand a problem or situation
1. Let me provide you with some background on this problem.
2. background information
• the experiences, knowledge, education, etc., in a person's past
1. What is your academic background?
2. We need to know more about his background before we hire him.
3. He and his wife come from similar social backgrounds. [=they were raised in similar social environments]
4. His writing is influenced by his ethnic background.
5. They ran a background check to make sure the job candidate had no criminal record.