the rear part of the human body, extending from the neck to the lower end of the spine.
the part of the body of animals corresponding to the human back.
the rear portion of any part of the body: the back of the head.
the whole body, with reference to clothing: the clothes on his back.
ability for labor; effort or strength: He put his back into the task.
the part opposite to or farthest from the front; the rear part: the back of a hall.
the part that forms the rear of any object or structure: the back of a chair.
the area directly behind a person: Face the town with the river at your back and follow the main street up the hill.
the part that covers the back: the back of a jacket.
the spine or backbone: The fall broke his back.
any rear part of an object serving to support, protect, etc.: the back of a binder.
Nautical, Aeronautics. the forward side of a propeller blade (opposed to face, def. 22).
Aeronautics. the top part or upper surface of an aircraft, especially of its fuselage.
Bookbinding. the edge of a book formed where its sections are bound together.
the backs,grounds along the River Cam in back of certain colleges at Cambridge University in England: noted for their great beauty.
Architecture. extrados.
Carpentry.
the upper side of a joist, rafter, handrail, etc.
the area of interior wall between a window stool and the floor.
Mining. the roof of a stope or drift.
Sports.
a player whose regular position is behind that of players who make initial contact with the opposing team, as behind the forward line in football or nearest the player's own goal in polo.
the position occupied by this player.
verb (used with object)
to support, as with authority, influence, help, or money (often followed by up): to back a candidate; to back up a theory with facts.
to bet on: to back a horse in the race.
to cause to move backward (often followed by up): to back a car.
to furnish with a back: to back a book.
to lie at the back of; form a back or background for: a beach backed by hills.
to provide with an accompaniment: a singer backed by piano and bass.
to get upon the back of; mount.
to write or print on the back of; endorse; countersign.
Carpentry. to attach strips of wood to the upper edge of (a joist or rafter) to bring it to a desired level.
Nautical.
to alter the position of (a sail) so that the wind will strike the forward face.
to brace (yards) in backing a sail.
to reinforce the hold of (an anchor) by means of a smaller one attached to it and dropped farther away.
verb (used without object)
to go or move backward (often followed by up).
Nautical. (of wind) to change direction counterclockwise (opposed to veer).
adjective
situated at or in the rear: at the back door; back fence.
far away or removed from the front or main area, position, or rank; remote: back settlements.
belonging to the past: back files; back issues.
in arrears; overdue: back pay.
coming or going back; moving backward: back current.
Navigation. reciprocal (def. 7).
Phonetics. (of a speech sound) produced with the tongue articulating in the back part of the mouth, as in either of the sounds of go.
Verb Phrases
back away,to retreat; withdraw: They gradually began to back away from their earlier opinion.
back down,to abandon an argument, opinion, or claim; withdraw; retreat: He backed down as soon as a member of the audience challenged his assertion.
back off,
to back down: Now that the time for action had arrived, it was too late to back off.
Textiles.to reverse (the spindle) in mule spinning prior to winding on the newly spun length of yarn.
back out (of),to fail to keep an engagement or promise; withdraw from; abandon: Two entrants have backed out of competing in the marathon. You can't back out now.
back up,
to bring (a stream of traffic) to a standstill: A stalled car backed up traffic for miles.
Printing.to print a sheet again on its other side.
Printing.to fill in (the thin copper shell of an electrotype) with metal in order to strengthen it.
to move backward: Back up into the garage.
to reinforce: We backed up the cardboard with slats so it wouldn't fall down.
to support or confirm: He backed up my story and they let us go.
Computers.to duplicate (a file or a program) as a precaution against failure.
back up for,AustralianInformal. to return for more of, as another helping of food.
Idioms for back
back and fill,
Nautical.to trim the sails of a boat so that the wind strikes them first on the forward and then on the after side.
to change one's opinion or position; vacillate.
back and forth, South Midland U.S.
to go back and forth, as in running errands or visiting: He spent the day back and forthing to the post office.
to work in an aimless or ineffective way; expend effort with little result.
back water,
Nautical.to reverse the direction of a vessel.
to retreat from a position; withdraw an opinion: I predict that the council will back water on the tax issue.
be flat on one's back,
to be helpless or beaten: He's flat on his back after a long succession of failures.
to be confined to one's bed because of illness.
behind one's back, in one's absence; without one's knowledge; treacherously; secretly: I'd rather talk to him about it directly than discuss it behind his back.
break someone's back, to cause a person to fail, especially to cause to become bankrupt: His family's extravagance is breaking his back.
break the back of,
to complete the principal or hardest part of (a project, one's work, etc.): He finally broke the back of the problem.
to overcome; defeat: They broke the back of our union.
get off one's back, Informal. to cease to find fault with or to disturb someone: The fight started when they wouldn't get off my back.
get one's back up, Informal. to become annoyed; take offense: She gets her back up whenever someone mentions her family's influence.
get / have someone’s back, Informal. to help and protect someone if necessary, especially in a time of trouble: If he needs anything, I hope he knows I’ve got his back.Also have got someone's back .
have one's back to the wall, to be in a difficult or hopeless situation.
in back of, behind: He hid in back of the billboard. What could be in back of his strange behavior?Also back of.
on someone's back, Informal. finding fault with or disturbing someone: The boss is always on my back about promptness.
pat on the back. pat1 (defs. 9, 11).
a stab in the back. stab (def. 12).
stab (someone) in the back. stab (def. 13).
turn one's back on,
to forsake or neglect: He was unable to turn his back on any suffering creature.
to leave behind, as in anger.
watch one’s back, Slang. to be on guard: Your assistant is gunning for your job—watch your back!
Origin of back
1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English bak, Old English bæc “back of the body”; cognate with Old Frisian bek, Old Saxon, Old Norse bak; perhaps from Indo-European bhogo- (unattested) “bending”; cf. bacon
32. Back,hind,posterior,rear refer to something situated behind something else. Back means the opposite of front: back window.Hind, and the more formal word posterior, suggest the rearmost of two or more often similar objects: hind legs; posterior lobe.Rear is used of buildings, conveyances, etc., and in military language it is the opposite of fore: rear end of a truck; rear echelon.
usage note for back
56. Although some object to their use, the phrases in back of and the shorter—and much older— back of with the meaning “behind” are fully established as standard in American English: The car was parked ( in ) back of the house. Both phrases occur in all types of speech and writing.
OTHER WORDS FROM back
backless,adjective
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH back
back up , backup
Words nearby back
bacillus Calmette-Guérin, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus thuringiensis, bacitracin, back, backache, back against the wall, back-alley, back anchor, back and fill
Definition for back (2 of 3)
back2
[ bak ]
/ bæk /
adverb
at, to, or toward the rear; backward: to step back.
in or toward the past: to look back on one's youth; They met in Chicago back in 1976.
at or toward the original starting point, place, or condition: to go back to the old neighborhood.
in direct payment or return: to pay back a loan; to answer back.
in a state of restraint or retention: to hold back the tears; to hold back salary.
in a reclining position: to lean back; to lie back.
Verb Phrases
go back on,
to be treacherous or faithless to; betray: to go back on friends.
to fail to keep; renege on: to go back on promises.
Origin of back
2
First recorded in 1480–90; shortening of aback
Definition for back (3 of 3)
back3
[ bak ]
/ bæk /
noun
a large tub, vat, or cistern used by dyers, brewers, distillers, etc., to hold liquids.
a broad-beamed ferryboat hauled across a body of water by a rope or chain.
Origin of back
3
First recorded in 1685–95; from Dutch bak “tub, trough,” from Late Latin bacca “water container”; compare French bac “ferryboat, punt”; see basin
Back in New York, the slow pace and inward focus of her yoga practice was less fulfilling.
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She jumps on his back, mock-choking him and covering his eyes.
Sia and Shia LaBeouf’s Pedophilia Nontroversy Over ‘Elastic Heart’|Marlow Stern|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A street sweeper was caught in the crossfire as a gunman fired at the officer, fatally wounding her in the back.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A few years back, designer John Galliano was fined by the government for sharing just such anti-semitic sentiments in public.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the meantime, Epstein has tried to use his charitable projects to float him back to the top.
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In an hour he was back again with a huge bundle of dry wood.
A Roving Commission|G. A. Henty
Bill was anxious to get back to poor Jack, who he remembered was well-nigh starving.
From Powder Monkey to Admiral|W.H.G. Kingston
You have fifteen rum-shops to meet before you get back to your wife and child.
A Singular Life|Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
Mat Gleason, superintendent of the Oro Ranch, loafed, his back against a post.
Overland Red|Henry Herbert Knibbs
There was a large yard at the back, and in one corner of it was the shed, which did duty for a stable.
Under the Red Crescent|Charles S. Ryan
British Dictionary definitions for back (1 of 2)
back1
/ (bæk) /
noun
the posterior part of the human body, extending from the neck to the pelvisRelated adjective: dorsal
the corresponding or upper part of an animal
the spinal column
the part or side of an object opposite the front
the part or side of anything less often seen or usedthe back of a carpet; the back of a knife
the part or side of anything that is furthest from the front or from a spectatorthe back of the stage
the convex part of somethingthe back of a hill; the back of a ship
something that supports, covers, or strengthens the rear of an object
ball games
a mainly defensive player behind a forward
the position of such a player
the part of a book to which the pages are glued or that joins the covers
mining
the side of a passage or layer nearest the surface
the earth between that level and the next
the upper surface of a joist, rafter, slate, tile, etc, when in positionCompare bed (def. 13)
at one's backbehind, esp in support or pursuit
at the back of one's mindnot in one's conscious thoughts
behind one's backwithout one's knowledge; secretly or deceitfully
break one's backto overwork or work very hard
break the back ofto complete the greatest or hardest part of (a task)
on one's backorflat on one's backincapacitated, esp through illness
get off someone's backinformalto stop criticizing or pestering someone
have on one's backto be burdened with
on someone's backinformalcriticizing or pestering someone
put one's back intoto devote all one's strength to (a task)
put someone's back uporget someone's back upto annoy someone
see the back ofto be rid of
back of beyond
the back of beyonda very remote place
Australianin such a place (esp in the phrase out back of beyond)
turn one's back on
to turn away from in anger or contempt
to refuse to help; abandon
with one's back to the wallin a difficult or desperate situation
verb(mainly tr)
(also intr)to move or cause to move backwards
to provide support, money, or encouragement for (a person, enterprise, etc)
to bet on the success ofto back a horse
to provide with a back, backing, or lining
to provide with a music accompanimenta soloist backed by an orchestra
to provide a background for; be at the back ofmountains back the town
to countersign or endorse
archaicto mount the back of
(intr; foll by on or onto)to have the back facing (towards)the house backs onto a river
(intr)(of the wind) to change direction in an anticlockwise direction in the northern hemisphere and a clockwise direction in the southernSee veer 1 (def. 3a)
nauticalto position (a sail) so that the wind presses on its opposite side
back and fill
nauticalto manoeuvre the sails by alternately filling and emptying them of wind to navigate in a narrow place
to vacillate in one's opinion
adjective(prenominal)
situated behinda back lane
of the pastback issues of a magazine
owing from an earlier dateback rent
mainlyUS, Australian and NZremoteback country
(of a road) not direct
moving in a backward directionback current
phoneticsof, relating to, or denoting a vowel articulated with the tongue retracted towards the soft palate, as for the vowels in English hard, fall, hot, full, fool
adverb
at, to, or towards the rear; away from something considered to be the front; backwards; behind
in, to, or towards the original starting point, place, or conditionto go back home; put the book back; my headache has come back
in or into the pastto look back on one's childhood
in reply, repayment, or retaliationto hit someone back; pay back a debt; to answer back
in checkthe dam holds back the water
in concealment; in reserveto keep something back; to hold back information
back and forthto and fro
back to front
in reverse
in disorder
See also back down, back off, back out, back up
Word Origin for back
Old English bæc; related to Old Norse bak, Old Frisian bek, Old High German bah
British Dictionary definitions for back (2 of 2)
back2
/ (bæk) /
noun
a large tub or vat, esp one used by brewers
Word Origin for back
C17: from Dutch bak tub, cistern, from Old French bac, from Vulgar Latin bacca (unattested) vessel for liquids