Nearby Words
bi·as
[bahy-uhs] 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.
EXPANDElectronics. the application of a steady voltage or current to an active device, as a diode or transistor, to produce a desired mode of operation.
6.
COLLAPSEa high-frequency alternating current applied to the recording head of a tape recorder during recording in order to reduce distortion.
adjective
7.
cut, set, folded, etc., diagonally: This material requires a bias cut.
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Biases
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
adverb
8.
in a diagonal manner; obliquely; slantingly: to cut material bias.
verb (used with object)
Idiom9.
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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To biases
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"
EXPAND+ 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.
COLLAPSE
"[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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