context

Word family  noun context adjective contextual verb contextualize adverb contextually

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Linguistics

con·text /ˈkɒntekst $ ˈkɑːn-/ ●●○ W2 AWL noun [countable, uncountable]  1  SITUATIONthe situation, events, or information that are related to something and that help you to understand it 场合；环境；周围情况；背景political/social/historical etc context the political context of the election 此次选举的政治背景place/put/see etc something in context To appreciate what these changes will mean, it is necessary to look at them in context. 要明白这些变化的意义，就有必要了解它们的背景。in the context of something These incidents are best understood in the broader context of developments in rural society. 这些事件放在农村社会发展这一更大的背景中就容易理解了。2  SLthe words that come just before and after a word or sentence and that help you understand its meaning 上下文，语境 The meaning of ‘mad’ depends on its context. 一词的意义要视上下文而定。3  take/quote something out of context UNFAIRto repeat part of what someone has said or written without describing the situation in which it was said, so that it means something quite different 脱离背景地复述某事，把某事断章取义 His comments, taken out of context, seem harsh. 如果不考虑当时的情形，他的那番话似乎很严厉。n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesthe social/political/historical etc contextYou often need to understand the cultural context of jokes.a wider/broader/larger context (=a more general situation, set of events etc)It’s important to look at the story in the wider context of medieval Spain.an international/European/British etc contextWe study the work of these artists in their European context.a general contextThis problem is occurring within a general context of economic difficulty.verbssee something in the context of something (=consider and understand something in relation to a particular situation)His life and work must be seen in the context of his youth.look at/examine etc something in contextAlthough this does not seem to be a good result, let’s examine it in context.put something in/into context (=consider something in context)These statistics need to be put into context.place/set something in context (=consider something in context)The issue must be placed within its historical context.provide a context for somethingThe study provides a context for future research.

Examples from the Corpus

context• But all this takes place within a context of direction.• This makes it absolutely clear that the early road and the drains belong in a mid to late second-century context.• These must be developed in context, through experiences.• The eucharistic recall of the paschal mystery was simply inserted into this thank-offering context.• English words can have several meanings depending on context.• The relationship between the sentence context and the target word varied.• It also occurs in the context of political protest.• It is recognised that in the Catholic school they will also be seen within the context of a wider and life-long catechesis.• In this context, a neutron star is effectively a single atomic nucleus.broader context• I had a broader context than most of the guys who just grew up in the street business.• Thus as I look at the figures I see the question in a broader context.• In a broader context, however, these variations have their limits.• The sharp medical edge of her lecture would be blunted towards the end by placing the Black Death in its broader context.• This brings us to consider the broader context of industrial conflict.• This is isolation and, in the broader context, the notion of what it means to be an island.• General evolution takes place when the broader context itself changes, a process that is both unintentional and willed.• The Tsar's support for emancipation must be understood within the broader context of the State's role in a serf-based society.Origin context (1400-1500) Latin contextus “connection of words”, from contexere “to weave together”, from com- ( → COM-) + texere “to weave”

con·text noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

situation, or the events, that information related Corpus to are

context
con‧text S2 W2 AC /ˈkɒntekst $ ˈkɑːn-/ noun [uncountable and countable]1. the situation, events, or information that are related to something and that help you to understand it
    political/social/historical etc context
    the political context of the election
    place/put/see etc something in context
    To appreciate what these changes will mean, it is necessary to look at them in context.
    in the context of something
    These incidents are best understood in the broader context of developments in rural society.
2. the words that come just before and after a word or sentence and that help you understand its meaning:
    The meaning of ‘mad’ depends on its context.
3. take/quote something out of context to repeat part of what someone has said or written without describing the situation in which it was said, so that it means something quite different:
    His comments, taken out of context, seem harsh.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives
   ▪ the social/political/historical etc context You often need to understand the cultural context of jokes.
   ▪ a wider/broader/larger context (=a more general situation, set of events etc) It’s important to look at the story in the wider context of medieval Spain.
   ▪ an international/European/British etc context We study the work of these artists in their European context.
   ▪ a general context This problem is occurring within a general context of economic difficulty.
■ verbs
   ▪ see something in the context of something (=consider and understand something in relation to a particular situation) His life and work must be seen in the context of his youth.
   ▪ look at/examine etc something in context Although this does not seem to be a good result, let’s examine it in context.
   ▪ put something in/into context (=consider something in context) These statistics need to be put into context.
   ▪ place/set something in context (=consider something in context) The issue must be placed within its historical context.
   ▪ provide a context for something The study provides a context for future research.

🔑 con·text AW BrE /ˈkɒntekst/ 🔊NAmE /ˈkɑːntekst/ 🔊 noun [countable, uncountable] 🔑 the situation in which sth happens and that helps you to understand it （事情发生的）背景，环境，来龙去脉◆This speech needs to be set in the context of Britain in the 1960s. 这篇演说需要放到 20 世纪 60 年代的英国这一背景之下来看待。🔊🔊◆His decision can only be understood in context. 只有了解来龙去脉才能明白他的决定。🔊🔊🔑 the words that come just before and after a word, phrase or statement and help you to understand its meaning 上下文；语境◆You should be able to guess the meaning of the word from the context. 你应该能从上下文猜出这个词的含义。🔊🔊◆This quotation has been taken out of context (= repeated without referring to the rest of the text). 这条引文断章取义。🔊🔊