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backhanded

backgammon

shaker

 

back ground 0-w /'baekgraund/ noun

►                 FAMILY/EDUCATION, ETC. AE, licfi'. 1 [C] the details of

a person’s family, education, experience etc. ttj # # jp:; ^ M JP5 :        a person’s family/social/cultural/

educational/class background ft-Af$ ft # /

The job would suit someone with a

business background.

►                 PAST M A 2 [C, usually sing., U] the circumstances or

past events which help explain why sth is how it is; information about these      )#:!:: the

historical background to the war      O

background information/knowledge

The elections are taking place against a background of violence.          Uftiftfr „ 0 Can you give me

more background on the company?

►                 OF PICTURE/PHOTO ® [®; j® ft 3 [C, usually sing.] the part

of a picture, photograph or view behind the main objects, people, etc. fft JS;; # jp::       a photograph with

trees in the background  — compare

FOREGROUND fl.(l) O note at ENVIRONMENT

►                 LESS IMPORTANT POSITION    4 [sing.] a position in

which people are not paying attention to sb/sth or not as much attention as they are paying to sb/sth else ft & 01 [ft S; Hfj: He prefers to remain in the back­ground and let his assistant talk to the press, fife #

itflfeW«iaifgir»lfa^^mo o A piano tinkled gently in the background.       0

o background music W JR If 3s ❖ There was a lot of background noise (= that you could hear, but were not listening to). # jR ^ ef ^» — compare foreground

n.( 2)

►                 COLOUR UNDER STH ft 5 [C, usually sing.] a colour or design on which sth is painted, drawn, etc. ft; Jfc Vc', J&if: The name of the company is written in red on a white background.

in the 'background (computing if) (of a computer program ifi^f/l^lff) not being used at the present time and appearing on the screen behind programs that are being used fft ft ; # jR (ft — compare in the fore­ground at foreground /?. — more at merge

back-hand /'baekhaend/ noun [usually sing.] (in tennis, etc. pK]$c^) a stroke played with the back of the hand turned in the direction towards which the ball is hit fcft-;       He has a good backhand {= he can

make good backhand strokes), fife Sfi Jg. fit #<, o a backhand volley/drive fc ft ji&ft / JR — compare

FOREHAND

back-hand-ed /.baek'haendid/ adj. having a meaning that is not directly or clearly expressed, or that is not intended f® g   IM a

.backhanded 'compliment {US also .left-handed 'compliment) a remark that seems to express admir­ation but could also be understood as an insult fit ^ ft

mmm