Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - 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  • ~ness noun  III. adverb  Date: 1575  1. diagonally cut cloth ~  2. obsolete awry  IV. transitive verb  (~ed or ~sed; ~ing or ~sing)  Date: circa 1628  1. to give a settled and often prejudiced outlook to his background ~es him against foreigners  2. to apply a slight negative or positive voltage to (as a transistor)  Synonyms: see incline BIAS  geographical name — see Beas