{
    "term": "background",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "the details of a person’s family, education, experience, etc.",
            "sensetop": "background in something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "somebody's **ethnic/genetic/cultural background**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "somebody's family/educational background"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The job would suit someone with a business background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We come from very different backgrounds but we get on well."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has a background in journalism.",
                    "contextForm": "background in something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "In the future, we will require **background checks** on airport employees."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In spite of their very different backgrounds, they immediately became friends."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can you tell me something about your family background?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Children from a military background often move around a lot."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Even people with a technical background will struggle to understand some of the jargon."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He came from a very privileged background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her academic background includes a degree in education."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her background was in biology and medicine."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I think we get on well because we're from similar backgrounds."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is important to have a broad educational background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She wanted to know about his criminal background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The students are drawn from very mixed social backgrounds."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We work with clients from diverse backgrounds."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She is an economist with a background in business."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I work with children from deprived backgrounds."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Discrimination on the basis of race, sex or social background will not be tolerated."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The classes are designed for students with a background in history or theology."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Family and relationships", "People in society"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["family", "broad", "different"],
                "verb + background": ["come from", "have", "be drawn from"],
                "background + verb": ["be in something"],
                "background + noun": ["check"],
                "preposition": [
                    "from a background",
                    "with a background",
                    "background in"
                ],
                "phrases": ["a range of backgrounds", "a variety of backgrounds"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the circumstances or past events that help explain why something is how it is; information about these",
            "sensetop": "background to somethingagainst a background of somethingbackground on something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'm including a little **background information** on the situation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The book explains the complex **historical background** to the war.",
                    "contextForm": "background to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The elections are taking place against a background of violence.",
                    "contextForm": "against a background of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Our reporter can now provide more background on this story.",
                    "contextForm": "background on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can you give me more background on the company?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Against that general background, let me give you a more detailed view of current practice."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The book provides the background to the revolution."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Those discussions formed the background to the decision."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["general", "factual", "cultural"],
                "verb + background": ["describe", "explain", "give (somebody)"],
                "background + noun": ["briefing", "info", "information"],
                "preposition": [
                    "against the background",
                    "background to",
                    "background of"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the part of a picture, photograph or view behind the main objects, people, etc.",
            "sensetop": "in the backgroundagainst the… background",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a photograph with trees in the background",
                    "contextForm": "in the background"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A shadowy figure is visible in the background of the scene."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The areas of water stood out against the dark background.",
                    "contextForm": "against the… background"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The mountains in the background were capped with snow."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The wolves' coats turn white to match their snowy background."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Art"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["black", "blue", "grey/​gray"],
                "verb + background": ["blend in with", "match"],
                "background + noun": ["colour/​color"],
                "preposition": [
                    "against a/​the background",
                    "in the background",
                    "on a/​the background"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a position in which people are not paying attention to somebody/something or not as much attention as they are paying to somebody/something else",
            "sensetop": "in the background",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The camerawork, the **background music** and the locations all contribute to the mood of the film."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a lot of **background noise** *(= that you could hear, but were not listening to)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "background radiation"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He prefers to remain in the background and let his assistant talk to the press.",
                    "contextForm": "in the background"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A piano was playing gently in the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Danger was always lurking in the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The issue has recently faded into the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "After the first scene, his character is relegated to the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a radio on in the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could see my secretary hovering in the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had learned how to melt invisibly into the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The dispute over the new contract allowed her other problems to fade into the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The signal was very clear, with no background hiss or distortion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We were provided with soft lights and a tranquil background."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + background": ["blend into", "fade into", "melt into"],
                "background + noun": ["music", "noise", "radiation"],
                "preposition": ["in the background"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a colour or design on which something is painted, drawn, etc.",
            "sensetop": "on a… backgroundagainst a… background",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The name of the company is written in red on a white background.",
                    "contextForm": "on a… background"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Most paintings look good against a neutral background colour.",
                    "contextForm": "against a… background"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "used to refer to tasks or processes that the user is not actively working on at the present time",
            "sensetop": "in the background",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Programs can be left running in the background.",
                    "contextForm": "in the background"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Find and kill unwanted background processes like viruses and trojans."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to behave quietly when you are with a group of people so that they do not notice you",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈbækɡraʊnd/",
                "audio": "ba/background/background__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈbækɡraʊnd/",
                "audio": "ba/background/background__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": null
}