BACKGROUND Synonyms

• scenery hung at back of stage

• the top of a desk

• (computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear

• represent as less significant or important

• understate the importance or quality of

• the solid part of the earth's surface

• a rational motive for a belief or action

• the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface

• a relation that provides the foundation for something

• a position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle)

• the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground

• material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use)

• a relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused

• a connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage)

• (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting

• the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface

• fix firmly and stably

• confine or restrict to the ground

• place or put on the ground

• instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject

• bring to the ground

• hit or reach the ground

• throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage

• (baseball) a hit that travels along the playing field.

• cover with a primer; apply a primer to

• connect to a ground

• use as a basis for; found on

• an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:

• the state of the environment in which a situation exists

• a magnifier of images of distant objects

• electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities

• the context and environment in which something is set

• the state of the environment in which a situation exists

• arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a play or movie is enacted

• the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event

• the physical position of something

• a table service for one person

• a mounting consisting of a piece of metal (as in a ring or other jewelry) that holds a gem in place

• information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem

• extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured

• understate the importance or quality of

• (computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear