English Words Note. 16

¹bi·as

noun \ˈbī-əs\

Definition of BIAS

1

: a line diagonal to the grain of a fabric; especially : a line at a 45 degree angle to the selvage often utilized in the cutting of garments for smoother fit

2

a : a peculiarity in the shape of a bowl that causes it to swerve when rolled on the green in lawn bowling b : the tendency of a bowl to swerve; also : the impulse causing this tendency c : the swerve of the bowl

3

a : bent, tendency b : an inclination of temperament or outlook; especially : a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment : prejudice c : an instance of such prejudice d (1) : deviation of the expected value of a statistical estimate from the quantity it estimates (2) : systematic error introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over others

4

a : a voltage applied to a device (as a transistor control electrode) to establish a reference level for operation b : a high-frequency voltage combined with an audio signal to reduce distortion in tape recording

— on the bias

: askew, obliquely

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Examples of BIAS

1. He showed a bias toward a few workers in particular.
2. Do they have a bias against women?
3. The company was accused of racial bias.
4. The decision was made without bias.
5. She showed no bias toward older clients.
6. a student with a strong bias towards the arts
7. … members of the opinion media will cherry-pick moments from the debate that support their own ideological biases. —Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 16 Oct. 2000
8. [+]more

Origin of BIAS

Middle French biais

First Known Use: 1530

Related to BIAS

Synonyms: favor, nonobjectivity, one-sidedness, partiality, parti pris, partisanship, ply, prejudice, tendentiousness

Antonyms: impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, open-mindedness, unbiasedness

 

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English Words Note. 15

grid

noun \ˈgrid\

Definition of GRID

1

: grating

2

a (1) : a perforated or ridged metal plate used as a conductor in a storage battery (2) : an electrode consisting of a mesh or a spiral of fine wire in an electron tube (3) : a network of conductors for distribution of electric power; also : a network of radio or television stations b : a network of uniformly spaced horizontal and perpendicular lines (as for locating points on a map); also : something resembling such a network <a road grid> c : gridiron 3; broadly : football

3

: the starting positions of cars on a racecourse

4

: a device in a photocomposer on which are located the characters to be exposed as the text is composed

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Examples of GRID

1. The students plotted points on a grid.
2. The city streets form a grid.

Origin of GRID

back-formation from gridiron

First Known Use: 1839

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English Words Note. 14

¹vo·cal

adj \ˈvō-kəl\

Definition of VOCAL

1

a : uttered by the voice : oral b : produced in the larynx : uttered with voice

2

: relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice <vocal music>

3

: vocalic

4

a : having or exercising the power of producing voice, speech, or sound b : expressive c : full of voices : resounding d : given to expressing oneself freely or insistently : outspoken <a highly vocal critic> e : expressed in words

5

: of, relating to, or resembling the voice <vocal impairment>

— vo·cal·i·ty noun

— vo·cal·ly adverb

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Examples of VOCAL

1. music with vocal and instrumental parts
2. She is a vocal critic of the new law.
3. He was very vocal in his criticism of me.

Origin of VOCAL

Middle English, from Latin vocalis, from voc-, vox voice — more at voice

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VOCAL

Synonyms: oral, spoken, uttered, voiced

Antonyms: nonvocal

 

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