bias

I. noun Etymology: Middle French biais Date: 1530 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 Synonyms: see predilection II. adjective Date: 1551 diagonal, slanting — used chiefly of fabrics and their cut • biasness noun III. adverb Date: 1575 1. diagonally <

cut cloth bias

> 2. obsolete awry IV. transitive verb (biased or biassed; biasing or biassing) Date: circa 1628 1. to give a settled and often prejudiced outlook to <

his background biases him against foreigners

> 2. to apply a slight negative or positive voltage to (as a transistor) Synonyms: see incline