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back

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: back

1
 nvadjadv
the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
travel backward
related to or located at the back
at or to or toward the back or rear
2
 advadj
in or to or toward a former location
of an earlier date
3
 v
be behind; approve of
4
 v
shift to a counterclockwise direction
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: back
1

n 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

n 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
chine
backbone of an animal
urochord
a notochord of a larval tunicate typically confined to the caudal region
Type of:
skeletal structure
any structure created by the skeleton of an organism

n 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

n 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

n 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

n 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

n (football) a person who plays in the backfield

Types:
show 7 types...
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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
tailback
(American football) the person who plays tailback
wingback
(football) the person who plays wingback
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
Type of:
football player, footballer
an athlete who plays American football

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

Types:
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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

n 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

v 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

v cause to travel backward

“back the car into the parking spot”
Antonyms:
advance, bring forward
cause to move forward

v be in back of

“My garage backs their yard”
Antonyms:
face, front, look
be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to
face
be opposite
show more antonyms...
Type of:
lie
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

v strengthen by providing with a back or backing

Type of:
strengthen
gain strength

adj 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
backmost, hindermost, hindmost, rearmost
located farthest to the rear
rear, rearward
located in or toward the back or rear
aft
(nautical, aeronautical) situated at or toward the stern or tail
Antonyms:
front
relating to or located in the front
anterior
of or near the head end or toward the front plane of a body
advance, advanced, in advance
situated ahead or going before
foremost, frontmost
preceding all others in spatial position
frontal, head-on
meeting front to front
first
preceding all others in time or space or degree
fore
situated at or toward the bow of a vessel
show more antonyms...

adj located at or near the back of an animal

“back (or hind) legs”
Synonyms:
hind, hinder
posterior
located at or near or behind a part or near the end of a structure

adv at or to or toward the back or rear

“he moved back”
Synonyms:
backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
Antonyms:
forrad, forrard, forward, forwards, frontward, frontwards
at or to or toward the front
2

adv in or to or toward a former location

“she went back to her parents' house”

adv in or to or toward a past time

“set the clocks back an hour”
“never look back”
Synonyms:
backward
Antonyms:
ahead, forward
toward the future; forward in time

adv in or to or toward an original condition

“he went back to sleep”

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 of an earlier date

“back issues of the magazine”
Synonyms
noncurrent
not current or belonging to the present time
3

v be behind; approve of

“I backed Kennedy in 1960”
Synonyms:
endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
endorse, indorse, second
give support or one's approval to
Types:
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guarantee, warrant
stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of
champion, defend
protect or fight for as a champion
cover, insure, underwrite
protect by insurance
certify, endorse, indorse
guarantee as meeting a certain standard
Type of:
O.K., approve, okay, sanction
give sanction to

v give support or one's approval to

“I can't back this plan”
Synonyms:
endorse, indorse, second
endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
be behind; approve of
Type of:
back up, support
give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to

v support financial backing for

“back this enterprise”
Type of:
finance
obtain or provide money for

v 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

v 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
4

v 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
Launch
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