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Context vs Imply - What's the difference?

context | imply |

As verbs the difference between context and imply

is that context is (obsolete) to knit or bind together; to unite closely while imply is (of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence.

As a noun context

is the surroundings, circumstances, environment, background or settings that determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event or other occurrence.

As an adjective context

is (obsolete) knit or woven together; close; firm.

context

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The surroundings, circumstances, environment, background or settings that determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event or other occurrence.
  • In what context did your attack on him happen? - We had a pretty tense relationship at the time, and when he insulted me I snapped.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Moldova 0-5 England , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The display and result must be placed in the context that was it was against a side that looked every bit their Fifa world ranking of 141 - but England completed the job with efficiency to record their biggest away win in 19 years.}}
  • (senseid) (linguistics) The text in which a word or passage appears and which helps ascertain its meaning.
  • (archaeology) The surroundings and environment in which an artifact is found and which may provide important clues about the artifact's function and/or cultural meaning.
  • (mycology) The trama or flesh of a mushroom.
  • Antonyms

    *

    Derived terms

    () * context-dependent * context-free * context-sensitive * in context, compare in isolation * keyword in context, KWIC * keyword out of context, KWOC * out of context * take out of context

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To knit or bind together; to unite closely.
  • (Feltham)
  • * R. Junius
  • The whole world's frame, which is contexted only by commerce and contracts.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Knit or woven together; close; firm.
  • * Derham
  • The coats, without, are context and callous.
    ----

    imply

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence
  • The proposition that "all dogs are mammals" implies that my dog is a mammal
  • (of a person) to suggest by logical inference
  • When I state that your dog is brown, I am not implying that all dogs are brown
  • (of a person or proposition) to hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement
  • What do you mean "we need to be more careful with hygiene"? Are you implying that I don't wash my hands?
  • (archaic) to enfold, entangle.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.iv:
  • And in his bosome secretly there lay / An hatefull Snake, the which his taile vptyes / In many folds, and mortall sting implyes .

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See

    Synonyms

    * (to have as a necessary consequence) entail * (to suggest tacitly) allude, hint, insinuate, suggest

    See also

    * connotation * entail