Dictionary Definition
context
Noun
1 discourse that surrounds a language unit and
helps to determine its interpretation [syn: linguistic
context, context of
use]
2 the set of facts or circumstances that surround
a situation or event; "the historical context" [syn: circumstance]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
From contextus.Noun
- the text in which a word or passage appears and which helps ascertain its meaning
- the surroundings, circumstances, environment, background or settings which determine,
specify, or clarify the meaning of an event
- In what context did your attack on him happen? - We had a pretty tense relationship at the time, and when he insulted me I snapped.
Antonyms
Translations
text in which a word appears
circumstances or settings
Derived terms
Usage notes
Extensive Definition
Context may refer to:
- Context (language use), the relevant constraints of the communicative situation that influence language use, language variation and discourse
- Context (computing), the virtual environment required to suspend a running software program
- Context (convention), an annual science fiction, fantasy and horror convention in Columbus, Ohio
- Archaeological context, an event in time which has been preserved in the archaeological record
Context may also be used for:
- Context analysis, analysis of the environment in which a business operates
- Context awareness, ability for computers to adjust to the natural environment
- Context menu, usability improvement based on context awareness
- Context mixing, a type of data compression algorithm
- Context principle, philosophy of language
- Context Sensitive Solutions, transportation
- Context theory, theory of how environmental design and planning of new development should relate to its context
- Contextualization, a translation approach that is not literal; predominately used in regards to Bible translations
- Trama (context or flesh), the mass of non-hymenial tissues that composes the mass of a fungal fruiting body
- Low context culture
- High context culture
- context clues they are something you find when you are reading and want to know what a new word means
See also
context in Czech: Kontext
context in German: Kontext
context in Modern Greek (1453-): Εννοιολογικό
πλαίσιο
context in Esperanto: Kunteksto
context in Spanish: Contexto
context in French: Contexte
context in Hungarian: Kontextus
context in Dutch: Context
context in Japanese: コンテクスト
context in Norwegian: Kontekst
context in Polish: Kontekst
context in Portuguese: Contexto
context in Russian: Контекст
context in Simple English: Context
context in Slovak: Kontext
context in Swedish: Kontext
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
alentours, ambiance, ambience, ambit, background, borderlands, circle, circuit, circumambiencies,
circumjacencies,
circumstances,
compass, entourage, environing
circumstances, environment, environs, existing conditions,
frame of reference, framework, full particulars,
gestalt, habitat, ins and outs, milieu, neighborhood, outposts, outskirts, perimeter, periphery, precincts, purlieus, set of conditions,
setting, situation, status quo,
structure, suburbs, surround, surroundings, total
environment, total situation, vicinage, vicinity, whole
picture