backdrop

American  

[bak-drop] / ˈbækˌdrɒp /

noun

1. especially British, back-cloth.  Theater.  the rear curtain of a stage setting.

2. the background of an event; setting.

3. Gymnastics.  a maneuver in which a trampolinist jumps in the air, lands on the back with the arms and legs pointed upward, and then springs up to a standing position.

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verb (used with object)

backdropped, backdropt, backdropping

1. to provide a setting or background for.

   A vast mountain range backdrops the broad expanse of lake.

backdrop British  

/ ˈbækˌdrɒp /

noun

1. another name for backcloth

2. the background to any scene or situation

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Usage

What does backdrop mean? Backdrop refers to the background or setting of a situation or event.It can refer to something physically located in the background of something else, such as a backdrop used for a photo shoot. It can also be used figuratively to refer to circumstances that surround an event, as in a backdrop of scandal and accusations of fraud. More specifically, a backdrop is the curtain that hangs at the back of the stage in a theater, as in We have to fix the rips in the backdrop before the big show. Less commonly, backdrop can also be used as a verb to mean providing a background for something, as in The towering trees backdropped the outdoor photo shoot. Example: The film took place against the backdrop of World War II and featured major events from the war.

Etymology

Origin of backdrop

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; back ¹ + drop

Example Sentences

He added: "Against that backdrop it was inevitable that we would always have to raise revenue. So there's no misleading there."

From BBC

The move came against a backdrop of concerns about an overvaluation of tech stocks and other risky assets.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, he warned that "risk managers remain highly astute to the landmines that could still derail the improving risk backdrop through December".

From Barron's

The color scheme glides from monochrome in the morning to various shades of blue in the afternoon, a backdrop to blindingly white icebergs, their seawashed cavities a bright turquoise.

From The Wall Street Journal

If November’s CPI print signals a benign backdrop, that could shape market expectations of when the central bank will decide to start lowering interest rates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• scenery