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1. Dictionary

   back

   /bak/

   noun

   • 1. the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips: "he lay on his back"
   • ▪ the upper surface of an animal's body that corresponds to a person's back: "the adults have white bodies with gray backs"
   • ▪ the spine of a person or animal. Similar spinebackbonespinal columnvertebral columntechnical:dorsumrachis
   • ▪ the part of a chair against which the sitter's back rests.
   • ▪ the part of a garment that covers a person's back: "a top with a scooped neckline and a low back"
   • ▪ a person's back regarded as carrying a load or bearing an imposition: "who wouldn't like the chance to get the boss off their backs?"
   • 2. the side or part of something that is away from the spectator or from the direction in which it moves or faces; the rear: "at the back of the hotel is a secluded garden" Similar rearrear sideother sidesternendtail endrear endtailfar endtag endOpposite frontfronthead
   • ▪ the position directly behind someone or something: "she unbuttoned her dress from the back"
   • ▪ the side or part of an object opposed to the one that is normally seen or used; the less active, visible, or important part of something: "write on the back of a postcard" Similar reversereverse sideother sideundersideversoinformal:flip sideOpposite frontface
   • 3. a player in a field game whose initial position is behind the front line: "their backs showed some impressive running and passing"

   adverb

   • 1. toward the rear; in the opposite direction from the one that one is facing or traveling: "she moved back a pace" Similar backwardsbehind oneto one's rearrearwardsawayoffOpposite forward
   • ▪ expressing movement of the body into a reclining position: "he leaned back in his chair"
   • ▪ at a distance away: "I thought you were miles back" Similar awayat a distance
   • ▪ behind: informal North American "he knew that other people were back of him"
   • 2. expressing a return to an earlier or normal condition: "she put the book back on the shelf"
   • ▪ at a place previously left or mentioned: "the folks back home are counting on him"
   • ▪ fashionable again: "sideburns are back"
   • 3. in or into the past: "he made his fortune back in 1955"
   • 4. in return: "they wrote back to me"

   verb

   • 1. give financial, material, or moral support to: "he had a newspaper empire backing him" Similar sponsorfinanceput up the money forfundsubsidizeunderwritepromotelend one's name tobe a patron ofact as guarantor ofsupportinformal:foot the bill forpick up the tab forbankrollstakesupportendorsesanctionapprove ofgive one's blessing tosmile onfavoradvocatepromoteupholdchampionvote forally oneself withstand behindside withbe on the side ofdefendtake up the cudgels forsecondinformal:throw one's weight behindOpposite oppose
   • ▪ supplement in order to reinforce or strengthen: "the government troops were backed by paramilitary forces"
   • ▪ be in favor of: "over 97 percent backed the changes"
   • ▪ (in popular music) provide musical accompaniment to (a singer or musician): "brisk guitar work backed by drums, bass, fiddle, and accordion"
   • ▪ bet money on (a person or animal) winning a race or contest: "he backed the horse at 33–1" Similar bet onplace a bet ongamble onstake money on
   • 2. walk or drive backward: "I put the car in reverse and backed down the road" Similar reversemove/drive backwardsbacktrackretrace one's stepsOpposite move forwardsadvance
   • ▪ cause to move backward: "he backed the Mercedes into the yard"
   • ▪ (of the wind) change direction counterclockwise around the points of the compass: "the wind had backed to the northwest"
   • ▪ put (a sail) aback in order to slow the vessel down.
   • 3. cover the back of (an object) in order to support, protect, or decorate it: "a mirror backed with tortoiseshell"
   • 4. lie behind or at the back of: "the promenade is backed by lots of cafes"
   • ▪ put a song or piece of music on the less important side of (a recording): "the new single is backed with a track from the LP"

   adjective

   • 1. of or at the back of something: "the back garden" Similar rearendhindhindmostrearmostdorsalposteriorOpposite frontfrontfront
   • ▪ situated in a remote or subsidiary position: "back roads"
   • 2. (especially of wages or something published or released) from or relating to the past: "she was owed back pay" Similar pastoldpreviousearlierformerout of dateOpposite future
   • 3. directed toward the rear or in a reversed course: "back currents"
   • 4. (of a sound) articulated at the back of the mouth: "a long back vowel, as in 'dance' or 'bath'"

   Word Origin Old Englishbæc, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch and Old Norse bak. The adverb use dates from late Middle English and is a shortening of aback.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • B

     3

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • K

     5

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishBACK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   in, into, or towards a previous place or condition, or an earlier time: look back He looked back and saw they were following him. put something back When you take the scissors, remember to put them back. bring something back Looking at her old photographs brought back (= made her remember) a lot of memories. He left a note saying "Gone out.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › backBack Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › back

   • Cached

   a (1) : the rear part of the human body especially from the neck to the end of the spine. (2) : the body considered as the wearer of clothes. They were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. (3) : capacity for labor, effort, or endurance. Put your back into it!

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › backBACK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › back

   • Cached

   noun. 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.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › backBack - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › back

   Your back is your spine, or the rear part of your whole body. When you lie on the grass on your back, you can watch the clouds in the sky above you. There are dozens of ways to use the word back. You might have back pain, or stroke your cat's back. Your clothing also has a back, and you have a figurative back: "Get off my back, Mom!"

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishback noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   back. noun. /bæk/ Idioms. part of body. the part of the human body that is on the opposite side to the chest, between the neck and the tops of the legs; the part of an animal’s body that corresponds to this. on your back He was lying on his back on the sofa. Do you sleep on your back or your front?

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of back – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   BACK definition: 1. where someone or something was before: 2. in a direction behind you: 3. as a reply or reaction…. Learn more.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › backBack - definition of back by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › back

   • Cached

   1. To cause to move backward or in a reverse direction: Back the car up and then make the turn. 2. To furnish or strengthen with a back or backing. 3.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionback noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

   • Cached

   back. noun. /bæk/ part of body. enlarge image. the part of the human body that is on the opposite side to the chest, between the neck, and the tops of the legs; the part of an animal's body that corresponds to this Do you sleep on your back or your stomach? He stood with his back to the door. They had their hands tied behind their backs.

10. www.yourdictionary.com › backBack Definition & Meaning - YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › back

    • Cached

    Back Definition. The part of the body opposite to the front; in humans and many other animals, the part to the rear or top reaching from the nape of the neck to the end of the spine. The backbone or spine. The part of a chair that supports one's back. The part or area farthest from the front.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishback adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

    • Cached

    Definition of back adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.