back - Definition | Dictionary definition of back

Definition of back

Nouns

the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine

"his back was nicely tanned"

Synonyms:: dorsum

Type of:: body part
any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity

the side that goes last or is not normally seen

"he wrote the date on the back of the photograph"

Synonyms:: rear

Antonyms:: front
the side that is seen or that goes first

Types:: after part, poop, quarter, stern, tail
the rear part of a ship; empennage, tail, tail assembly
the rear part of an aircraft

Type of:: side
an extended outer surface of an object

the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer

"he stood at the back of the stage"

Synonyms:: rear

Antonyms:: front
the part of something that is nearest to the normal viewer

Type of:: place, position
the particular portion of space occupied by something

(football) a person who plays in the backfield

Types:: show 7 types...; hide 7 types...; flanker, flanker back
a back stationed wide of the scrimmage line; used as a pass receiver; field general, quarterback, signal caller
(football) the person who plays quarterback; running back
(football) a back on the offensive team (a fullback or halfback) who tries to advance the ball by carrying it on plays from the line of scrimmage; fullback
(football) the running back who plays the fullback position on the offensive team; halfback
(football) the running back who plays the offensive halfback position; tailback
(American football) the person who plays tailback; wingback
(football) the person who plays wingback

Type of:: football player, footballer
an athlete who plays American football

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

"the fall broke his back"

Synonyms:: backbone, rachis, spinal column, spine, vertebral column

Types:: notochord
a flexible rodlike structure that forms the supporting axis of the body in the lowest chordates and lowest vertebrates and in embryos of higher vertebrates; urochord
a notochord of a larval tunicate typically confined to the caudal region; chine
backbone of an animal

Type of:: skeletal structure
any structure created by the skeleton of an organism

the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book

Synonyms:: binding, book binding, cover

Types:: half binding
book binding in which the spine and part of the sides are bound in one material and the rest in another; three-quarter binding
the spine and much of the sides are a different material from the rest of the cover

Type of:: protection, protective cover, protective covering
a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury

the part of a garment that covers the back of your body

"they pinned a `kick me' sign on his back"

Type of:: cloth covering
a covering made of cloth

a support that you can lean against while sitting

"the back of the dental chair was adjustable"

Synonyms:: backrest

Types:: cantle
the back of a saddle seat; ladder-back
the backrest of a chair that consists of two uprights with connecting slats

Type of:: support
any device that bears the weight of another thing

(American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 types...; line backer, linebacker
(American football) the position of a defensive football player who plays close behind the line of scrimmage; field general, quarterback, signal caller
(American football) the position of the football player in the backfield who directs the offensive play of his team; fullback
(American football) the position of a back on a football team; halfback
(American football) the position of a back on a football team; tailback
(American football) the position of the offensive back on a football team who lines up farthest from the line of scrimmage; wingback
(American football) the position of the offensive back who lines up behind or outside the end

Type of:: position
(in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player

Adverbs

in or to or toward a former location

"she went back to her parents' house"

at or to or toward the back or rear

"he moved back"

"tripped when he stepped backward"

Synonyms:: backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards

Antonyms:: forward
at or to or toward the front; forrad, forrard, forwards, frontward, frontwards; show more antonyms...

in or to or toward an original condition

"he went back to sleep"

in or to or toward a past time

"set the clocks back an hour"

"never look back"

"lovers of the past looking fondly backward"

Synonyms:: backward

Antonyms:: forward
toward the future; forward in time; ahead; ahead
toward the future; forward in time; show more antonyms...

in reply

"he wrote back three days later"

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"

Verbs

be behind; approve of

"I backed Kennedy in 1960"

Synonyms:: endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support; second
give support or one's approval to

Types:: show 4 types...; hide 4 types...; guarantee, warrant
stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of; cover, insure, underwrite
protect by insurance; certify, endorse, indorse
guarantee as meeting a certain standard; champion, defend
protect or fight for as a champion

Type of:: O.K., approve, okay, sanction
give sanction to

travel backward

"back into the driveway"

"The car backed up and hit the tree"

Types:: back out
move out of a space backwards

Type of:: go, locomote, move, travel
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

give support or one's approval to

"I can't back this plan"

Synonyms:: endorse, indorse, second; plump for, plunk for, support
be behind; approve of

Type of:: back up, support
give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to

cause to travel backward

"back the car into the parking spot"

Antonyms:: advance
cause to move forward; bring forward; show more antonyms...

support financial backing for

"back this enterprise"

Type of:: finance
obtain or provide money for

be in back of

"My garage backs their yard"

Antonyms:: front
be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to; face, look; show more antonyms...

Type of:: lie
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

place a bet on

"Which horse are you backing?"

Synonyms:: bet on, gage, game, punt, stake

Types:: ante
place one's stake; double up, parlay
stake winnings from one bet on a subsequent wager

Type of:: bet, play, wager
stake on the outcome of an issue

shift to a counterclockwise direction

"the wind backed"

Antonyms:: veer
shift to a clockwise direction

Type of:: change over, shift, switch
make a shift in or exchange of

establish as valid or genuine

"Can you back up your claims?"

Synonyms:: back up

Type of:: affirm, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, support, sustain
establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts

strengthen by providing with a back or backing

Type of:: strengthen
gain strength

Adjectives

related to or located at the back

"the back yard"

"the back entrance"

Synonyms:: posterior
located at or near or behind a part or near the end of a structure; aft
(nautical, aeronautical) situated at or toward the stern or tail; backmost, hindermost, hindmost, rearmost
located farthest to the rear; rear, rearward
located in or toward the back or rear

Antonyms:: front
relating to or located in the front; anterior
of or near the head end or toward the front plane of a body; first
preceding all others in time or space or degree; fore
situated at or toward the bow of a vessel; advance, advanced, in advance
situated ahead or going before; foremost, frontmost
preceding all others in spatial position; frontal, head-on
meeting front to front; show more antonyms...