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| back [ bak ] |
noun (plural backs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. anatomy rear part of body: the rear part of the human body between the neck and the pelvis
  carrying a baby on her back
back pain
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2. anatomy spine: the spinal column
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3. anatomy area of vertebrate's body: the area of a vertebrate animal's body on each side of the backbone
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4. part at rear: the part that is at the rear of something or is farthest from the front
Someone at the back of the crowd called out.
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5. side not usually seen: the side of something such as a sheet of paper or a photograph that carries less information or is away from the viewer
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6. part of garment: the part of a garment designed to cover the wearer's back
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7. part of piece of furniture: the part of a seat designed to support somebody's spine
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8. part to which pages are fixed: the part of a book where the pages are glued or stitched to the binding
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9. sports defensive player: a player in sports such as soccer or hockey whose role is mainly to prevent the other team from scoring
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10. sports player behind line: a player positioned behind the offensive or defensive line, especially in football
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adverb |
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| Definition: |
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1. in reverse direction: in the opposite direction from the one in which somebody or something was previously facing or traveling
She looked back over her shoulder.
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2. at distance: at a distance from where something is situated or taking place
Stay back, the dog might bite.
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3. in reserve: as a reserve or supply kept for future use
I kept back part of the proceeds.
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4. so as to uncover something: away from something so as to leave something else uncovered or revealed
roll back the carpet
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5. so as to recline: in or into a reclining position
Sit back and relax.
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6. in or into past: used to indicate a time in the past
See also ago
It happened about three weeks back.
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7. to more distant time: used to indicate movement in time away from the present
will put the clocks back
postponed the wedding and moved it back to next year
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8. to original owner: to or into the keeping of the original or former owner or possessor
You can have it back now, because I'm finished with it.
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9. in return: as a reaction or response to something
She called me while I was out, so I called her back.
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10. indicates direction and distance: in the distance behind something, especially somebody's present position
We passed it about two miles back.
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11. returned to condition or topic: used to indicate a return to a state, situation, or subject of discussion
to get back to your point
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12. into popularity again: into fashion or popularity again
The 1960s are back.
Do you think Depression glass will ever come back?
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adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. located at rear: located at the rear of something, or at the part farthest from the front
Use the back entrance.
a back room
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2. issued earlier: published or issued at an earlier date
a back issue
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3. remaining from earlier time: due at or owed from an earlier date
paid the back taxes in full
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4. located away from main roads: located away from the main roads or the center of a town
a quiet back street
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5. remote: situated away from the main centers of population or activity
explored the back areas of the canyon
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6. reverse: moving in an opposite direction from the usual one
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7. phonetics formed at rear of mouth: formed at or toward the rear of the mouth, as the vowel in "ball" is
a back vowel
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verb (past and past participle backed, present participle back·ing, 3rd person present singular backs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb move backward: to move backward, or make somebody or something move backward
The vehicle in front backed into me.
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2. transitive verb support person or cause: to give a person or cause financial, political, or moral support
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3. transitive verb bet on outcome of race: to bet money on the person, team, or animal thought likely to win a race or competition
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4. transitive verb provide proof to support something: to provide evidence or proof in support of a statement
But can they back their allegations?
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5. transitive verb reinforce something: to reinforce something by adding a support or backing
(
often passive
)
colored paper backed with cardboard
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6. transitive verb be behind something: to be situated behind something
(
usually passive
)
a lake backed by a range of mountains
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7. transitive verb music provide musical accompaniment for somebody: to provide an instrumental or vocal accompaniment for the main performer of a piece of popular music or jazz
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8. intransitive verb meteorology change direction: to change direction, moving in a counterclockwise direction
(
refers to winds
)
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9. transitive verb regional address envelope: to write an address on an envelope or letter
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| [ Old English bæc< Germanic] |
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back and fill
1. to adjust the sails of a vessel to allow the wind to move in and out of them in an alternating manner while maneuvering in a narrow channel
2. to dither or vacillate in actions or decision-making
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back and forth
1. first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, usually forward and backward
2. repeatedly changing between two people, things, situations, or ideas
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back of at the back of or behind something
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behind somebody's back when somebody is not present
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be or get on somebody's back to criticize or pressure somebody (slang)
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get off somebody's back to stop criticizing or pressuring somebody (slang)
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get your back up to become annoyed or angry (informal)
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get your own back to get revenge (informal)
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have your back to the wall to be in a very difficult situation, with little chance of getting out of it
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in back (of something) at the back of or behind something (informal)
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know something like the back of your hand to know something extremely well
He knew the city like the back of his hand, having lived there for nearly 50 years.
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put somebody's back up to annoy or antagonize somebody (informal)
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put your back into something to put effort, especially physical strength, into doing something
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stab somebody in the back to do or say something harmful to somebody after pretending to be a friend
After promising not to tell anyone, he stabbed me in the back and went to the press.
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the back of beyond a remote inaccessible place that has few amenities
They bought a small cabin in the back of beyond, just to get away from it all.
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turn your back on somebody or something to ignore or reject somebody or something
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you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours if you help me, I will help you in returnoften refers to unofficial or dishonest business dealings
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| Word Usage |
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Movement in time:
Back as it applies to the past refers to a change to an earlier time. They have moved the estimate of its date of origin back a hundred years would mean a change from, say, ad 1000 to ad 900. As the word applies to the future, however, it usually signifies a change to a later time: The forecast is for rain, so let's move the picnic back a week. What the two uses have in common is movement in time away from the present. Up is the opposite of back in this sense: Let's move the date up means moving the date closer to the present, and thus in future contexts changing it to an earlier one. Forward in future contexts is used less consistently than either back or up; it is best avoided. All these words become particularly confusing when the subject is, for example, a decision, now in the past, about what was at the time the future: Last month she told me she wanted to move my appointment back. In a context like this, make earlier or make later is clearer.
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