bias

v. prejudice, influence opinions

n. prejudice; tendency, leaning

BIAS (originally known as Berkley Integrated Audio Software) is a privately held corporation based in Petaluma, California.
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For other senses of this word, see bias (disambiguation). A bias is a prejudice in a general or specific sense, usually in the sense for having a preference to one particular point of view or ideological perspective. However, one is generally only said to be biased if one's powers of judgment are influenced by the biases one holds, to the extent that one's views could not be taken as being neutral or objective, but instead as subjective. A bias could, for example, lead one to accept or deny the truth of a claim, not on the basis of the strength of the arguments in support of the claim themselves, but because of the extent of the claim's correspondence with one's own preconceived ideas. This is called confirmation bias.
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Noun
1. a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
(synonym) prejudice, preconception
(hypernym) partiality, partisanship
(hyponym) taboo, tabu
2. a line or cut across a fabric that is not at right angles to a side of the fabric
(synonym) diagonal
(hypernym) straight line
Verb
1. influence in an unfair way; "you are biasing my choice by telling me yours"
(hypernym) prejudice, prepossess
(hyponym) handicap
(derivation) prejudice, preconception
2. cause to be biased
(synonym) predetermine
(hypernym) prejudice, prepossess
(hyponym) slant, angle, weight
(derivation) prejudice, preconception
Adjective
1. slanting diagonally across the grain of a fabric; "a bias fold"
(similar) oblique

(v. t.)
To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to influence; to prejudice; to prepossess.
  

(n.)
A weight on the side of the ball used in the game of bowls, or a tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it from a straight line.
  

(n.)
A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
  

(n.)
A slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias.
  

(n.)
A leaning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent; inclination.
  

(adv.)
In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as, to cut cloth bias.
  

(a.)
Inclined to one side; swelled on one side.
  

(a.)
Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.
  

In a clinical trial, bias refers to effects that a conclusion that may be incorrect as, for example, when a researcher or patient knows what treatment is being given. To avoid bias, a blinded study may be done.