'To place in the background' definitions:

Definition of 'To place in the background'

From: GCIDE
  • background \back"ground`\, n. [Back, a. + ground.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Paint.) The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The distance in a picture is usually divided into foreground, middle distance, and background. --Fairholt. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight. [1913 Webster]
  • I fancy there was a background of grinding and waiting before Miss Torry could produce this highly finished . . . performance. --Mrs. Alexander. [1913 Webster]
  • A husband somewhere in the background. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. The set of conditions within which an action takes place, including the social and physical conditions as well as the psychological states of the participants; as, within the background of the massive budget deficits of the 1980's, new spending programs had little chance of passage by the congress. [PJC]
  • 6. The set of conditions that precede and affect an action, such as the social and historical precedents for the event, as well as the general background[5]; as, against the background of their expulsion by the Serbs, the desire of Kosovars for vengeance is understandable though regrettable. [PJC]
  • 7. (Science) The signals that may be detected by a measurement which are not due to the phenomenon being studied, and tend to make the measurement uncertain to a greater or lesser degree. Specifically: (Physics) Electronic noise present in a system using electronic measuring instrument or in a telecommunications system, which may hide and which must be differentiated from the desired signal; also called background noise or noise. [PJC]
  • 8. (Journalism) An agreement between a journalist and an interviewee that the name of the interviewee will not be quoted in any publication, although the substance of the remarks may be reported; -- often used in the phrase "on background". Compare deep background. [PJC]
  • To place in the background, to make of little consequence.
  • To keep in the background, to remain unobtrusive, inconspicuous or out of sight; -- of people.
  • deep background, (Journalism) the status of an interview which must not be quoted in a publication, even without attribution. Compare background[8]. [1913 Webster +PJC]