context

[ kon-tekst ]
See synonyms for: contextcontexts on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect: You have misinterpreted my remark because you took it out of context.

  2. the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc.

  1. Mycology. the fleshy fibrous body of the pileus in mushrooms.

Origin of context

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin contextus “a joining together, scheme, structure,” past participle of contexere “to join by weaving,” equivalent to con- con- + texere “to plait, weave”; cf. text

Other words for context

Other words from context

  • con·text·less, adjective

Words Nearby context

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How to use context in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for context

context

/ (ˈkɒntɛkst) /


noun
  1. the parts of a piece of writing, speech, etc, that precede and follow a word or passage and contribute to its full meaning: it is unfair to quote out of context

  2. the conditions and circumstances that are relevant to an event, fact, etc

Origin of context

1
C15: from Latin contextus a putting together, from contexere to interweave, from com- together + texere to weave, braid

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012