backˈ-cloth or backˈdrop noun

1. The painted cloth or curtain at the back of the stage
2. The background to any situation, activity, etc

backˈ-comb intransitive verb and transitive verb

To give (the hair) a puffed-out appearance by combing the underlying hairs towards the roots and smoothing the outer hairs over them

backˈ-country noun

Remote, thinly populated districts (also adjective)

backˈcourt noun (tennis)

1. That part of the court lying behind the service-line (also adjective)
2. In other games, that part of the court nearest the baseline

backˈ-crawl noun (swimming)

The crawl stroke, performed on the back (now usu called backˈstroke)

backˈ-cross noun

1. A cross between a hybrid and a parent
2. The process or act of back-crossing

transitive verb

To cross (a hybrid) with a parent

backˈ-crossing noun

back-dateˈ transitive verb

1. To put an earlier date on
2. To count as valid retrospectively from a certain date

back door noun

1. A door in the back part of a building
2. Clandestine or illicit means

backˈdoor adjective

1. Unworthily secret
2. Clandestine

backdown see back down below.

backˈ-draught noun

A backward current

backdrop see back-cloth above.

backˈ-endˈ noun

1. The rear end
2. The later part of a season (dialect)
3. The late autumn (dialect)
4. The aspects of the running of an operation, eg a website, that do not involve interaction with the public

backˈfall noun

1. An obsolete term for an acciaccatura (music)
2. A fall on the back as in wrestling (often figurative)
3. A lever in the coupler of an organ

backˈfield adjective (American football, etc)

Of or in the position of a back or the backs

noun (American football)

The backs collectively

backˈfile noun

The back numbers of a newspaper, journal, etc

backˈfill noun

The material used in backfilling

transitive verb and intransitive verb

To refill (eg foundations or an excavation) with earth or other material

backˈfilling noun

backˈfire noun

1. Ignition of gas in an internal-combustion engine's cylinder at the wrong time, or inside eg a Bunsen burner instead of at the outlet
2. A controlled forest or prairie fire started in order to create a bare space, to stop a major fire spreading further (N American)

intransitive verb /bak-fīrˈ/

1. (of a plan, etc) to go wrong and have a bad effect on the originator
2. To have a backfire
3. To start a backfire (N American)

backˈfitting noun (nuclear eng)

Making changes to nuclear (and other) plants already designed or built eg to cater for changes in safety criteria

backˈflip noun

A backward aerial somersault

back-formāˈtion noun

1. The making of a word from another that is, wrongly or humorously, taken to be a derivative, as the verb sidle from the adverb sideling treated as if it were a participle
2. A word made in this way

backˈ-friend noun

1. A pretended friend (obsolete)
2. A backer, a friend who stands at one's back

backˈ-ganging adjective (Scot)

In arrears

back garden or (Scot) back green noun

A garden or green at the back of a house

backˈground noun

1. The space behind the principal figures of a picture
2. That against which anything is, or ought to be, seen (figurative)
3. Upbringing and previous history
4. Environment
5. An inconspicuous or obscure position, the shadows
6. Ground at the back

adjective

1. In the background (lit or figurative)
2. (of music, light, etc) complementary to and unobtrusively accompanying something else such as a film or social activity

background heating noun

Heating which provides a low level of warmth but requires supplementing for complete comfort

background processing noun (computing)

Processing carried out non-interactively, when work placed in a background queue is attended to as computing resources become available

background radiation noun

Low-level radiation from substances present in the environment

background tasks plural noun (computing)

Tasks such as printing which a computer can carry out simultaneously with tasks involving user input

backˈ-hair noun

The hair at the back of the head

backˈhand noun

1. A stroke made with the back of the hand turned in the direction of the stroke (tennis, etc)
2. The part of the court to the left of a right-handed player, or the right of a left-handed (tennis)
3. Handwriting with the letters sloping backwards

adjective

(of a shot in tennis, etc) played with the back of the hand turned in the direction of the stroke

transitive verb

To play a backhand shot

backˈhanded adjective

1. Backhand
2. (of a blow) carried out with the back of the hand
3. (of a compliment, etc) indirect, dubious, sarcastic, derogatory in effect

backˈ-hander noun

1. A blow with the back of the hand
2. A backhand stroke
3. A bribe (informal)
4. An extra glass of wine out of turn, the bottle being passed back

backˈ-heel transitive verb (football)

To kick (the ball) backwards with the heel (also noun)

backˈhoe noun

(also backhoe loader) (a tractor equipped with) a shovel at the end of a mechanical arm, for making minor excavations

backˈing-down noun

1. Abandonment of one's position
2. Shirking

backing storage noun (computing)

The storage of data externally from the computer in a backing store

backing store noun (computing)

A large-capacity computer data store supplementary to a computer's main memory

backing track noun

A recorded accompaniment to a live singer

back issue noun

A back number of a publication

backˈland noun

1. A piece of land at the back of an established property, specif when viewed or used as an area for building development
2. Back-country

back lane noun

A lane to the rear of a building or buildings

backˈlash noun

1. Reaction or consequence, esp if violent
2. The jarring or recoiling motion of ill-fitting machinery

backˈletter noun (Scots law)

A deed attaching a qualification or condition to the terms of a conveyance or other instrument

backˈlift noun (cricket or football, etc)

A backward lifting of the bat (or leg) before the stroke is played (or ball is kicked)

backˈ-light noun (photography)

Light falling on a subject from the rear

transitive verb

To illuminate something from the rear

backˈ-lighting noun

backˈ-lill (Scot) sometimes (non-standard) -lilt noun

The left-hand thumb hole at the back of a bagpipe chanter

backˈlist noun

Books previously published which a publisher keeps in print, as opposed to newly published books

backˈ-load noun

A load taken on by a lorry for a return journey

intransitive verb

To obtain a back-load

backˈ-loading noun

backˈlog noun

1. A reserve or accumulation of business, stock, work, etc that will keep one going for some time
2. A log at the back of a fire (chiefly N American)

backˈlot noun (film, TV)

The outdoor area, often next to the studio, used for exterior scenes

backˈmarker noun

1. A person who starts a race with the least advantageous handicap
2. A competitor at the back of the field

back-mutāˈtion noun (biology) see reversion under reverse

back number noun

1. A copy or issue of a newspaper or magazine of a previous date
2. A person or thing out of date, old-fashioned or no longer useful

backˈ-office adjective

Of staff, etc who work in banks, the Civil Service, etc, behind the scenes out of the public view

backˈ-of-the-enˈvelope adjective

(of a calculation) performed quickly and without scrupulous regard to accuracy

backˈpack noun

A pack carried on the back, a rucksack

intransitive verb

To carry a pack on the back, esp as a hiker

backˈpacker noun

backˈpacking noun

back pass noun (football)

A pass from a player to his or her own goalkeeper, which the goalkeeper is not allowed to handle

back passage noun

1. A passageway at or towards the rear of a building
2. The rectum (informal)

back pay noun

1. Pay that is overdue
2. Pay for work that was done in the past, often resulting from a back-dated pay increase

back-pedˈal intransitive verb

1. To push the pedals backwards, as in slowing a fixed-wheel bicycle
2. To hold back
3. To reverse one's course of action
4. To retreat from an opponent while still facing him or her (boxing)

back-pedˈalling noun

backˈpiece or backˈplate noun

A piece or plate of armour for the back

back pressure noun (engineering)

1. The pressure opposing the motion of the piston of an engine on its exhaust stroke
2. The exhaust pressure of a turbine

backˈ-projection noun

The projection of film onto the back of a special screen so as to be seen from the other side as a background to action taking place in front of the screen

back rest noun

The part of a seat which supports the sitter's back

back room noun

A place where secret work is done

backˈroom adjective

(of people) doing important work behind the scenes, esp in secret

back-rope see backband above.

back row noun (rugby)

The line of forwards at the back of a scrum

backˈ-row adjective

backˈsaw noun

A saw stiffened by a thickened back

backˈscatter noun (physics)

The deflection of radiation or particles by scattering through angles greater than 90º with reference to the original direction of travel

transitive verb

To scatter in this way

backˈscratch intransitive verb

backˈscratcher noun

1. A long-handled instrument for scratching the back
2. A person who practises backscratching

backˈscratching noun

1. Doing favours in return for favours, for the advantage of both parties
2. Servile flattery

back-seat driver noun

1. Someone free of responsibility but full of advice
2. Someone controlling from a position from which he or she ought not to control

backˈset noun

1. A setting back, reverse
2. An eddy or counter-current

backsey /bakˈsīˈ/ noun (Scot)

Sirloin

backˈ-shift noun

1. A group of workers whose time of working overlaps or comes between the day shift and the night-shift
2. The time this group is on duty

backˈside noun

1. The back or rear side or part of anything
2. The rear part of an animal
3. The buttocks (informal)
4. The premises at the rear of a house (Scot)

backˈsight noun

1. A sight taken back towards a previous fixed point (surveying)
2. The sight of a rifle nearer the stock

backˈ-slang noun

Slang in which every word is pronounced as if spelt backwards

backˈ-slapping adjective

Vigorously and demonstratively cheery

noun

Such an approach, manner or behaviour towards associates

backˈslash noun (computing)

A character consisting of a line sloping from top left to bottom right

backˈslide intransitive verb

To slide or fall back in faith, morals or work, etc

backˈslider noun

backˈsliding noun

backˈspace (or /-spāsˈ/) intransitive verb

To move the cursor of a computer or the carriage of a typewriter one or more spaces back by means of a particular key

noun

1. The key used for backspacing (also backˈspacer or backspace key)
2. The act of backspacing

backˈ-spaul or -spauld noun (Scot)

1. The back of the shoulder
2. The hindleg

backspeirˈ or backspeerˈ transitive verb and intransitive verb (Scot)

To cross-question

backˈspin noun (sport)

A rotary movement against the direction of travel of a ball imparted to reduce its momentum on impact

backˈstabbing noun

The act of treacherously criticizing someone to whom one poses as a friend

backˈstabber noun

backstageˈ adjective and adverb (lit and figurative)

Behind the scenes, unobserved by the public

backˈstairs plural noun

Servants' or private stairs of a house

adjective

Secret or underhand

backˈstall noun

A garrotter's confederate on the lookout behind

backstartˈing adjective (Spenser)

Starting back

backˈstays plural noun

1. Ropes or stays extending from the topmast-heads to the sides of a ship, and slanting a little backwards (nautical)
2. Any stay or support at the back

backˈstitch noun (needlework)

A stitch in which the needle enters behind, and comes out in front of, the end of the previous stitch (also intransitive verb and transitive verb)

backˈstop noun

1. A screen, wall, etc acting as a barrier in various sports or games, eg shooting, baseball, etc
2. (the position of) a player, eg in rounders, who stops the ball
3. Something providing additional support, protection, etc
4. Something preventing excessive backward movement

back story noun

The events supposed to have happened before the incidents portrayed in a film, novel, etc

back straight noun

The straight part of a racecourse or track farthest from the finish

backˈstreet noun

1. A street away from the main road in a town or city, esp as part of a poorer, less fashionable area
2. A back lane

backstreet abortion noun

An abortion performed by an unqualified person operating illicitly

back stretch noun

A back straight

backˈstroke noun

1. A blow or stroke in return
2. Back-crawl, a swimming stroke with alternate backward circular movements of each arm and scissors movements of the legs, performed on the back
3. Formerly a swimming stroke with simultaneous backward circular movements of both arms, and the breaststroke kick, performed on the back (also called English backstroke)

backˈswimmer noun

An aquatic insect of the Notonectidae family which swims on its back, propelled by its back legs

backˈswing noun (sport)

The first stage in a swing of a club, racket, etc, in which it is swung back and away from the ball

backˈsword noun

1. A sword with a back or with only one edge
2. A fencing stick with a basket-hilt, a singlestick

backswordˈman noun

back talk noun (N American)

Backchat

back-to-backˈ adjective

1. With backs facing and usu close up against each other
2. (of houses) built thus (also noun)
3. Following in close sequence (informal)

backˈtrack intransitive verb

1. To go back on one's course
2. To reverse an opinion or course of action

noun

1. A return track to the starting point
2. A retracing of steps

backˈtracking noun

back translation noun

The re-translation of a translated text into the original language to test the quality of the original translation

backˈup or backˈ-up noun

1. A standby, support or reserve
2. A copy taken of data being worked on, stored on another disk against the possibility of damage to or loss of the working disk (computing)
3. The overflow from an obstructed pipe, etc

backup file noun (computing)

A copy of a computer file to be used in the event of the original file being lost or corrupted

backup light noun (N American)

Reversing light

backˈveld /-felt/ noun (S Afr)

Country remote from towns

adjective

Remote, rustic, primitive

backvelˈder /-dər/ noun

backˈward-looking adjective

1. Having more regard to the past than the future
2. Conservative, reactionary

backˈwards-compatible adjective (computing)

1. Of an operating system, able to run software designed for earlier versions of itself
2. Of hardware, able to run earlier versions of software

backˈwash noun

1. A receding wave
2. A backward current
3. A reaction, repercussion or aftermath

transitive verb

1. To affect with backwash
2. To clean the oil from (wool) after combing

backˈwater noun

1. A pool or belt of water connected with a river but not in the line of its present course or current
2. A place regarded as dull and isolated from important events
3. Water held back by a dam
4. Water thrown back by the turning of a water wheel
5. A backward current of water
6. Swell of the sea caused by a passing ship

backˈwoods plural noun

1. The forest beyond the cleared country
2. A remote region

backwoodsˈman noun

1. A person who lives in the backwoods
2. A person of uncouth manners
3. A peer who seldom attends the House of Lords

backˈword noun

1. A withdrawal of a promise, etc
2. A retort

backˈwork noun (mining)

Work done underground but not at the coalface

backˈworker noun

backˈ-wounding adjective (Shakespeare)

Backbiting

backyardˈ noun

1. A yard behind a house
2. One's home territory

adjective

(of a person) operating a small business from domestic premises, as backyard mechanic, or practising unofficially or illegally

back and fill (nautical)

1. To trim sails so that the wind alternately presses them back and fills them
2. To vacillate

back and forth

To and fro

back down

1. To abandon one's opinion or position
2. To move (a boat) backwards by pushing the oars (rowing) (backˈdown noun)

back of (US)

Behind

back off

1. To move backwards or retreat
2. Back down

back out

1. To move out backwards
2. To evade an obligation or undertaking

back to front

1. The wrong way round, with the back where the front should be
2. Reversed, in mirror image
3. In the wrong order, with matters that should be deferred being discussed or dealt with first
4. Completely, thoroughly

back to nature

Back to a simple way of life (also often backˈ-to-naˈture adjective)

back up

1. To give support to
2. (of water) to accumulate behind an obstruction
3. To make a backup of (data) (computing)

backward and forward

To and fro

back water

To row or turn the paddle wheels backwards

bend, fall or lean over backwards (informal)

To try very hard to be accommodating or to please

break the back of

1. To overburden
2. To accomplish the hardest part of

get off someone's back

To stop pestering or bothering someone

get someone's back up (informal)

To annoy or irritate someone

give or make a back

To take up position for leapfrog

have one's back to the wall

To be in a very difficult or desperate situation

have someone's back (chiefly US inf)

To protect someone

keep, place or put on the back burner

To set aside, postpone work on, or keep in reserve for later consideration or action

know something backwards

To have a thorough knowledge of something

on the back of

1. Close behind
2. Just after (Scot)

put one's back into

To put great effort into

ring bells backward

To begin with the bass bell, in order to raise the alarm

see the back of

To be rid of or finished with

set one's or put someone's back up

To show or arouse resentment, irritation or anger

take a back seat

To withdraw into an inconspicuous or subordinate position

talk through the back of one's neck see under neck

the Backs

The grounds of Cambridge colleges backing onto the River Cam

to the backbone

Through and through