back
noun.
the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
his back was nicely tanned
Synonym: dorsum
noun.
the side that goes last or is not normally seen
he wrote the date on the back of the photograph
Synonym: rear
noun.
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
Synonym: rear
noun.
(football) a person who plays in the backfield
noun.
the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
the fall broke his back
Synonym: vertebral column, spine, spinal column, rachis, backbone
noun.
the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
the book had a leather binding
Synonym: binding, book binding, cover
noun.
the part of a garment that covers the back of your body
they pinned a `kick me' sign on his back
noun.
a support that you can lean against while sitting
the back of the dental chair was adjustable
Synonym: backrest
noun.
(American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage
verb.
be behind; approve of
He plumped for the Labor Party|I backed Kennedy in 1960
Synonym: endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
verb.
travel backward
back into the driveway|The car backed up and hit the tree
verb.
give support or one's approval to
I'll second that motion|I can't back this plan|endorse a new project
Synonym: second, indorse, endorse
verb.
cause to travel backward
back the car into the parking spot
verb.
support financial backing for
back this enterprise
verb.
be in back of
My garage backs their yard
verb.
place a bet on
Which horse are you backing?|I'm betting on the new horse
Synonym: stake, punt, game, gage, bet on
verb.
shift to a counterclockwise direction
the wind backed
verb.
establish as valid or genuine
Can you back up your claims?
Synonym: back up
verb.
strengthen by providing with a back or backing
adj.
related to or located at the back
the back yard|the back entrance
adv.
in or to or toward a former location
she went back to her parents' house
adv.
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
Synonym: backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
adv.
in or to or toward an original condition
he went back to sleep
adv.
in or to or toward a past time
set the clocks back an hour|never look back|lovers of the past looking fondly backward
Synonym: backward
adv.
in reply
he wrote back three days later
adv.
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
adj.
located at or near the back of an animal
back (or hind) legs|the hinder part of a carcass
Synonym: hind, hinder
adj.
of an earlier date
back issues of the magazine
Antonym: advance, ahead, front, veer