What does backbone mean?

Definitions for backbone
ˈbækˌboʊnback·bone

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word backbone.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. anchor, mainstay, keystone, backbone, linchpin, lynchpinnoun

    a central cohesive source of support and stability

    "faith is his anchor"; "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"; "he is the linchpin of this firm"

  2. backbone, grit, guts, moxie, sand, gumptionnoun

    fortitude and determination

    "he didn't have the guts to try it"

  3. spinal column, vertebral column, spine, backbone, back, rachisnoun

    the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord

    "the fall broke his back"

  4. spine, backbonenoun

    the part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved

    "the title and author were printed on the spine of the book"

  5. backbonenoun

    the part of a network that connects other networks together

    "the backbone is the part of a communication network that carries the heaviest traffic"

Wiktionary

  1. backbonenoun

    The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.

  2. backbonenoun

    any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure

    Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.

  3. backbonenoun

    courage, fortitude, or strength

    He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Backbonenoun

    The bone of the back.

    Etymology: from back and bone.

    The backbone should be divided into many vertebres for commodious bending, and not be one entire rigid bone. John Ray.

Wikipedia

  1. Backbone

    The backbone is the vertebral column of a vertebrate.

ChatGPT

  1. backbone

    1) Anatomy: The series of vertebrae extending from the base of the skull to the tip of the tailbone, enclosing the spinal cord and supporting the trunk of the body; also known as the spine. 2) General: The primary support or main foundation of a system, structure, or organization. 3) Networking: The central conduit in a network to which other networks or devices are connected. 4) Character Trait: The strength of character, determination, or moral fiber of an individual. 5) Chemistry: The primary structural component of a molecule from which other elements or groups branch off.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Backbonenoun

    the column of bones in the back which sustains and gives firmness to the frame; the spine; the vertebral or spinal column

  2. Backbonenoun

    anything like , or serving the purpose of, a backbone

  3. Backbonenoun

    firmness; moral principle; steadfastness

Wikidata

  1. Backbone

    Backbone is the second album by jazz saxophonist Boney James, released in 1993.

Suggested Resources

  1. backbone

    Song lyrics by backbone -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by backbone on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce backbone?

How to say backbone in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of backbone in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of backbone in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of backbone in a Sentence

  1. Joe Biden:

    Barack Obama made that decision knowing if it was wrong, his career was over. I wanted the public to know this is a man with a backbone of steel, that's why I said it. And had I said, but, by the way, when I went up privately I told him to go, it would look like I was self-aggrandizing.

  2. Sage Chandler:

    Because technology is now the backbone of so many other industries - from agriculture to manufacturing - taxes on technology hit far beyond the technology industry.

  3. Carlo Ratti:

    Over the past decade, digital technologies have begun to blanket our cities, forming the backbone of a large, intelligent infrastructure.

  4. Jeb Bush:

    They want a commander-in-chief that will have a steady hand and have a backbone and will support the troops and has detailed plans on how to keep us safe as it relates to Islamic terrorism.

  5. David Reich:

    We can't do it alone, public transportation is the backbone of how people move about their cities and for Uber to thrive, public transportation has to thrive.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

backbone#10000#14066#100000

Translations for backbone

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for backbone »

Translation

Find a translation for the backbone definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"backbone." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/backbone>.

Discuss these backbone definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for backbone? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Browse Definitions.net

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    be present or associated with an event or entity
    A accompany
    B doom
    C distinguish
    D restore

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for backbone: