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bi·as
[bahy-uh
s] noun, adjective, adverb, verb, bi·ased, bi·as·ing or ( especially British ) bi·assed, bi·as·sing. noun
1.
an oblique or diagonal line of direction, especially across a woven fabric.
2.
a particular tendency or inclination, especially one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question; prejudice.
3.
Statistics. a systematic as opposed to a random distortion of a statistic as a result of sampling procedure.
4.
Lawn Bowling.
a.
a slight bulge or greater weight on one side of the ball or bowl.
b.
the curved course made by such a ball when rolled.
5.
Electronics. the application of a steady voltage or current to an active device, as a diode or transistor, to produce a desired mode of operation.
adjective
7.
cut, set, folded, etc., diagonally: This material requires a bias cut.
00:10
Bias
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
adverb
8.
in a diagonal manner; obliquely; slantingly: to cut material bias.
verb (used with object)
Idioms 9.
to cause partiality or favoritism in (a person); influence, especially unfairly: a tearful plea designed to bias the jury.
10.
Electronics. to apply a steady voltage or current to (the input of an active device).
11.
on the bias,
a.
in the diagonal direction of the cloth.
b.
out of line; slanting.
Origin:
1520–30; < Middle French biais oblique < Old Provençal, probably < Vulgar Latin *(e)bigassius < Greek epikársios oblique, equivalent to epi- epi- + -karsios oblique
1520–30; < Middle French biais oblique < Old Provençal, probably < Vulgar Latin *(e)bigassius < Greek epikársios oblique, equivalent to epi- epi- + -karsios oblique
Related forms
sub·bi·as, noun
su·per·bi·as, noun
Synonyms
2. predisposition, preconception, predilection, partiality, proclivity; bent, leaning. Bias, prejudice mean a strong inclination of the mind or a preconceived opinion about something or someone. A bias may be favorable or unfavorable: bias in favor of or against an idea. Prejudice implies a preformed judgment even more unreasoning than bias and usually implies an unfavorable opinion: prejudice against a race. 9. predispose, bend, incline, dispose.
2. predisposition, preconception, predilection, partiality, proclivity; bent, leaning. Bias, prejudice mean a strong inclination of the mind or a preconceived opinion about something or someone. A bias may be favorable or unfavorable: bias in favor of or against an idea. Prejudice implies a preformed judgment even more unreasoning than bias and usually implies an unfavorable opinion: prejudice against a race. 9. predispose, bend, incline, dispose.
Antonyms
2. impartiality.
2. impartiality.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
the ancient Greek personification of force: daughter of Pallas and Styx and sister of Cratus, Nike, and Zelos.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To bias
Collins
World English Dictionary
bias (ˈbaɪəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | mental tendency or inclination, esp an irrational preference or prejudice |
| 2. | a diagonal line or cut across the weave of a fabric |
| 3. | electronics the voltage applied to an electronic device or system to establish suitable working conditions |
| 4. | bowls |
| a. a bulge or weight inside one side of a bowl | |
| b. the curved course of such a bowl on the green | |
| 5. | statistics |
| a. an extraneous latent influence on, unrecognized conflated variable in, or selectivity in a sample which influences its distribution and so renders it unable to reflect the desired population parameters | |
| b. if T is an estimator of the parameter θ, the expected value of (T--θ) | |
| 6. | an inaudible high-frequency signal used to improve the quality of a tape recording |
| —adj | |
| 7. | slanting obliquely; diagonal: a bias fold |
| —adv | |
| 8. | obliquely; diagonally |
| —vb , -ases, -asing, -ased, -asses, -assing, -assed | |
| 9. | (usually passive) to cause to have a bias; prejudice; influence |
| [C16: from Old French biais, from Old Provençal, perhaps ultimately from Greek epikarsios oblique] | |
| 'biased | |
| —adj | |
| 'biassed | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
bias
1520s, from Fr. biais "slant, oblique," also figuratively, "expedient, means" (13c., in O.Fr. "sideways, askance, against the grain"), from O.Prov. biais, with cognates in Old Catalan and Sardinian; possibly from V.L. *(e)bigassius, from Gk. epikarsios "athwart, crosswise, at an angle," from epi- "upon"
+ karsios "oblique," from PIE *krs-yo-, from base *(s)ker- "to cut." A pp. adjective that became a noun in Old French. Transferred sense of "predisposition, prejudice" is from 1570s.
"[A] technical term in the game of bowls, whence come all the later uses of the word." [OED]The verb is from 1620s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
BIA
|
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The headlong bias to utility will let no talent lie in a napkin,-if possible, will teach spiders to weave silk stockings.
Furthermore, there is a general disposition to favor the way of the fox-although this may be entirely my own bias.
To have left it out would have been seen as another whitewash, and would have shown bias.
Some scientists had previously detected a right-hand bias when they looked at the flaking patterns on ancient stone tools.
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