Definitions of back [æk]

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Definition of 'back'

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

1. (n.) back
the rear part of the human body, from the neck to the end of the spine.

2.  back
the part of the body of animals corresponding to the human back.

3.  back
the rear portion of any part of the body:
the back of the head.

4.  back
the part opposite to or farthest from the front; rear:
the back of a hall.

5.  back
the part that forms the rear of any object or structure.

6.  back
the part covering the back:
the back of a jacket.

7.  back
the spine or backbone:
The fall broke his back.

8.  back
any rear part of an object serving to support, protect, etc.:
the back of a chair.

9.  back
the side of an object that is less functional, less often seen, etc.:
the back of an envelope.

10.  back
the whole body, with reference to clothing:
the clothes on one's back.

11.  back
ability for labor; effort; endurance:
to put one's back to a task.

12.  back
the edge of a book formed where its sections are bound together.

13.  back
(in various sports, as football)

14.  back
a player stationed to the rear of front-line play.

15.  back
the position so occupied.

16. (v.t.) back
to support, as with authority, influence, help, or money:
to back a candidate.

17.  back
to bet on:
to back a horse in the race.

18.  back
to cause to move backward (often fol. by up):
to back a car into a garage.

19.  back
to furnish with a back:
to back a book.

20.  back
to lie at the back of; form a back or background for.

21.  back
to provide with an accompaniment:
a singer backed by piano and bass.

22.  back
to get upon the back of; mount.

23.  back
to write or print on the back of; endorse; countersign.

24. (v.i.) back
to go or move backward (often fol. by up).

25.  back
(of wind) to change direction counterclockwise

26.  back
back away, to retreat; withdraw.

27.  back
back down, to abandon an argument or position.

28.  back
back off,

29.  back
to move back from something; retreat.

30.  back
to back down.

31.  back
back out, to fail to keep an engagement or promise; withdraw.

32.  back
back up,

33.  back
to move or cause to move backward.

34.  back
to reinforce.

35.  back
to support or confirm.

36.  back
to bring (a stream of traffic) to a standstill.

37.  back
to accumulate or become clogged due to a stoppage.

38.  back
to copy (a computer file or program) as a precaution against failure.

39. (adj.) back
situated at or in the rear:
the back door.

40.  back
far away or removed from the front or main area, position, or rank; remote:
back streets.

41.  back
of or belonging to the past:
back issues of a magazine.

42.  back
in arrears; overdue:
back pay.

43.  back
coming or going back; moving backward:
back current.

44.  back
(of a speech sound) articulated with the tongue in the back part of the mouth, as either of the sounds of
go.

45.  back
to trim the sails of a boat so that the wind strikes them first on the forward and then on the after side.

46.  back
to change one's opinion or position; vacillate.

47.  back
be (flat) on one's back, to be ill, helpless, or overcome by circumstances.

48.  back
behind one's back, without one's knowledge, esp. treacherously or secretly.

49.  back
break the back of, to conquer the most difficult or resistant part of:
to break the back of urban crime.

50.  back
get one's back up, to become annoyed; take offense.

51.  back
have one's back to the wall, to be in a difficult or hopeless situation.

52.  back
(in) back of, at the rear of; behind.

53.  back
Informal. nagging or criticizing someone.

54. (adv.) back
at, to, or toward the rear; backward:
to step back.

55.  back
in or toward the past:
to look back on one's youth.

56.  back
at or toward the original starting point, place, or condition:
to go back to one's home town; to put a coat back on.

57.  back
in direct payment or return:
to pay back a loan; to answer back.

58.  back
in a state of restraint or retention:
to hold back tears; to hold back salary.

59.  back
in a reclining position:
to lean back; to lie back.

60.  back
go back on,

61.  back
to fail to keep; renege on:
to go back on a promise.

62.  back
to be faithless to; betray.

63.  back
backward and forward; to and fro.

64.  back
from side to side.

65.  back
from one to the other.

Etymology: (1480–90; aph. form of aback)

Definition of 'back'

Princeton's WordNet

1. (noun) back, dorsum
the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
"his back was nicely tanned"

2. (noun) rear, back
the side that goes last or is not normally seen
"he wrote the date on the back of the photograph"

3. (noun) back, rear
the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
"he stood at the back of the stage"; "it was hidden in the rear of the store"

4. (noun) back
(football) a person who plays in the backfield

5. (noun) spinal column, vertebral column, spine, backbone, back, rachis
the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
"the fall broke his back"

6. (noun) binding, book binding, cover, back
the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
"the book had a leather binding"

7. (noun) back
the part of a garment that covers the back of your body
"they pinned a `kick me' sign on his back"

8. (noun) back, backrest
a support that you can lean against while sitting
"the back of the dental chair was adjustable"

9. (adj) back
(American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage

10. (adj) back(a)
related to or located at the back
"the back yard"; "the back entrance"

11. (adj) back(a), hind(a), hinder(a)
located at or near the back of an animal
"back (or hind) legs"; "the hinder part of a carcass"

12. (verb) back(a)
of an earlier date
"back issues of the magazine"

13. (verb) back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
be behind; approve of
"He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960"

14. (verb) back
travel backward
"back into the driveway"; "The car backed up and hit the tree"

15. (verb) second, back, endorse, indorse
give support or one's approval to
"I'll second that motion"; "I can't back this plan"; "endorse a new project"

16. (verb) back
cause to travel backward
"back the car into the parking spot"

17. (verb) back
support financial backing for
"back this enterprise"

18. (verb) back
be in back of
"My garage backs their yard"

19. (verb) bet on, back, gage, stake, game, punt
place a bet on
"Which horse are you backing?"; "I'm betting on the new horse"

20. (verb) back
shift to a counterclockwise direction
"the wind backed"

21. (verb) back, back up
establish as valid or genuine
"Can you back up your claims?"

22. (adverb) back
strengthen by providing with a back or backing

23. (adverb) back
in or to or toward a former location
"she went back to her parents' house"

24. (adverb) back, backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
at or to or toward the back or rear
"he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car"

25. (adverb) back
in or to or toward an original condition
"he went back to sleep"

26. (adverb) back, backward
in or to or toward a past time
"set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"

27. (adverb) back
in reply
"he wrote back three days later"

28. (adverb) back
in repayment or retaliation
"we paid back everything we had borrowed"; "he hit me and I hit him back"; "I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher"

Definition of 'back'

Kernerman English Learner’s Dictionary

1. (adverb) back
toward the rear or away from
to step back from the edge; to sit/lie back

2.  back
indicates a return to a previous state or position
Put it back where it belongs.; She nursed him back to good health.; When will you be back home?

3.  back
in a reply
Write back soon.; Call me back tomorrow.

4.  back
in or into the past
back in 1964; thinking back to his childhood

5. (noun) back
the part of the body between the neck and buttocks
to lie on your back

6.  back
the part away from the front
in the back of the room; on the back of the book; This last piece fits in the back.

7.  back
out back
at the rear of a house
a beautiful yard out back

8.  back
in back of
behind
boxes sitting in back of the door

9.  back
have your back to the wall
to be in a situation that is difficult to get out of
We had our backs to the wall early in the negotiations.

10.  back
in the back of your mind
bothering you slightly when you think of it
In the back of my mind, I knew something was missing.

11.  back
on sb's back
constantly reminding or criticizing sb
My manager is always on my back.

12.  back
when sb's back is turned
when sb is not there to hear
I know you talk about me when my back is turned.

13. (adjective) back
away from the front
the back pockets of his jeans; in the back row of seats

14.  back
from earlier
back pay

15. (verb) back
to give support to
Many celebrities are backing the project.

16.  back
to move backward
to back the car out of the driveway; He backed slowly away from the dog.

17.  back
to bet money on
to back the winning horse

Definition of 'back'

Webster Dictionary

1. (adj) back
being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements

2. (adj) back
being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent

3. (adj) back
moving or operating backward; as, back action

4. (adverb) back
in, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back

5. (adverb) back
to the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it

6. (adverb) back
to a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism

7. (adverb) back
(Of time) In times past; ago

8. (adverb) back
away from contact; by reverse movement

9. (adverb) back
in concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another

10. (adverb) back
in a state of restraint or hindrance

11. (adverb) back
in return, repayment, or requital

12. (adverb) back
in withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words

13. (adverb) back
in arrear; as, to be back in one's rent

14. (noun) back
a large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc

15. (noun) back
a ferryboat. See Bac, 1

16. (noun) back
in human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish, or lobster

17. (noun) back
an extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge

18. (noun) back
the outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail

19. (noun) back
the part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney

20. (noun) back
the part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village

21. (noun) back
the part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw

22. (noun) back
a support or resource in reserve

23. (noun) back
the keel and keelson of a ship

24. (noun) back
the upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage

25. (noun) back
a garment for the back; hence, clothing

26. (verb) back
to get upon the back of; to mount

27. (verb) back
to place or seat upon the back

28. (verb) back
to drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen

29. (verb) back
to make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books

30. (verb) back
to adjoin behind; to be at the back of

31. (verb) back
to write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document

32. (verb) back
to support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend

33. (verb) back
to bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse

34. (verb) back
to move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back

35. (verb) back
to change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind

36. (verb) back
to stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog

Definitions of 'back'

The Roycroft Dictionary

back
1. That part of the body to which your friend directs his remarks when he tells you the truth.

2. A smooth surface composed of skin and bones which stretches between Land's End and John O'Groat's.

Translation of 'back'

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

Sense: in man, the part of the body from the neck to the bottom of the spine She lay on her back.
Afrikaans: rug	Arabic: ظَهْر	Bulgarian: гръб
Brazilian: costas	Czech: záda	German: der Rücken
Danish: ryg	Greek: πλάτη	Spanish: espalda
Estonian: selg	Farsi: پشت؛ کمر	Finnish: selkä
French: dos	Hebrew: גַּב	Hindi: पीठ
Croatian: leđa	Hungarian: hát	Indonesian: punggung
Icelandic: bak, hryggur	Italian: schiena	Japanese: 背中
Korean: (사람의) 등	Lithuanian: nugara	Latvian: mugura
Malay: belakang	Dutch: rug	Norwegian: rygg
Polish: plecy	Persian: پشت؛ کمر	Pashto: شا، څټ
Portuguese: costas	Romanian: spate	Russian: спина
Slovak: chrbát	Slovenian: hrbet	Serbian: leđa
Swedish: rygg	Thai: หลัง	Turkish: sırt, arka
Taiwanese: （人）背部	Ukrainian: спина	Urdu: کمر، پُشت
Vietnamese: cái lưng	Chinese: （人）背部
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