context

Universal Words noun [C,U] 1 the situation in which sth happens and that helps you to understand it: This speech needs to be set in the context of Britain in the 1960s. * His decision can only be understood in context. * Such databases are being used in a wide range of contexts. 2 the words that come just before and after a word, phrase or statement and help you to understand its meaning: You should be able to guess the meaning of the word from the context. * This quotation has been taken out of context (= repeated without giving the circumstances in which it was said).