Foreground vs. Background
Difference Between Foreground and Background
Foregroundnoun
The part of a scene or picture that is nearest to and in front of the viewer.
Backgroundnoun
The ground or scenery located behind something.
Foregroundnoun
See forefront.
Backgroundnoun
The part of a pictorial representation that appears to be in the distance and that provides relief for the principal objects in the foreground.
Foregroundverb
To place in the foreground; call attention to
"He is currently at work on a trilogy of pieces ... which foreground the Algerian War" (Eleanor Heartney).Backgroundnoun
The general scene or surface against which designs, patterns, or figures are represented or viewed.
Foregroundnoun
The elements of an image which lie closest to the picture plane.
Backgroundnoun
A position, area, or situation that is not immediately in one's attention or notice
You can hear traffic moving in the background during the interview.Foregroundnoun
The subject of an image, often depicted at the bottom in a two-dimensional work.
Backgroundnoun
(Computers) The environment in which programs operate that the user does not engage with directly
processes that run in the background.Foregroundnoun
(computing) the application the user is currently interacting with; the application window that appears in front of all others.
Backgroundnoun
The circumstances and events surrounding or leading up to an event or occurrence.
Foregroundverb
To place in the foreground (physically or metaphorically)
Backgroundnoun
A person's experience, training, and education
Her background in the arts is impressive.Foregroundnoun
the part of a scene that is near the viewer
Backgroundnoun
The cultural or social environment in which a person was brought up or has lived
a class with students from many different backgrounds.Foregroundnoun
(computer science) a window for an active application
Backgroundnoun
Subdued music played especially as an accompaniment to dialogue in a dramatic performance.
Foregroundverb
move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent;
The introduction highlighted the speaker's distinguished career in linguisticsBackgroundnoun
Sound that intrudes on or interferes with an audio recording.
Backgroundnoun
Low-level radiation, as from radioactive decay, that exists as part of the natural environment.
Backgroundadjective
Less important in a scene.
background noise.Backgroundnoun
One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.
The lawyer had a background in computer science.Backgroundnoun
A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
Backgroundnoun
Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
Backgroundnoun
A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
There was tons of noise in the background.The photographer let us pick a background for the portrait.Backgroundnoun
(computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
Backgroundnoun
(computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.
The antivirus program is running in the background.Backgroundverb
To put in a position that is not prominent.
Backgroundverb
(journalism) To gather and provide background information (on).
Backgroundnoun
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training;
he is a lawyer with a sports backgroundBackgroundnoun
the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground;
he posed her against a background of rolling hillsBackgroundnoun
information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem;
the embassy filled him in on the background of the incidentBackgroundnoun
extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured;
they got a bad connection and could hardly hear one another over the background signalsBackgroundnoun
relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation;
when the rain came he could hear the sound of thunder in the backgroundBackgroundnoun
the state of the environment in which a situation exists;
you can't do that in a university settingBackgroundnoun
(computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear
Backgroundnoun
scenery hung at back of stage
Backgroundverb
understate the importance or quality of;
he played down his royal ancestry
