back
[1]
n
1 the posterior part of the human body, extending from the neck to the pelvis
Related adj →
dorsal
2 the corresponding or upper part of an animal
4 the part or side of an object opposite the front
5 the part or side of anything less often seen or used
the back of a carpet, the back of a knife
6 the part or side of anything that is furthest from the front or from a spectator
the back of the stage
7 the convex part of something
the back of a hill, the back of a ship
8 something that supports, covers, or strengthens the rear of an object
a a mainly defensive player behind a forward
b the position of such a player
10 the part of a book to which the pages are glued or that joins the covers
a the side of a passage or layer nearest the surface
b the earth between that level and the next
12 the upper surface of a joist, rafter, slate, tile, etc., when in position
Compare →
bed →
13
13 ♦
at one's back behind, esp. in support or pursuit
14 ♦
at the back of one's mind not in one's conscious thoughts
15 ♦
behind one's back without one's knowledge; secretly or deceitfully
16 ♦
break one's back to overwork or work very hard
17 ♦
break the back of to complete the greatest or hardest part of (a task)
18 ♦
(flat) on one's back incapacitated, esp. through illness
19 get off someone's back
Informal to stop criticizing or pestering someone
20 ♦
have on one's back to be burdened with
21 ♦
on someone's back
Informal criticizing or pestering someone
22 ♦
put one's back into to devote all one's strength to (a task)
23 ♦
put (or get) someone's back up to annoy someone
24 ♦
see the back of to be rid of
a the. a very remote place
b (Austral) in such a place (esp. in the phrase out back of beyond)
a to turn away from in anger or contempt
b to refuse to help; abandon
27 ♦
with one's back to the wall in a difficult or desperate situation
vb mainly tr
28 also intr to move or cause to move backwards
29 to provide support, money, or encouragement for (a person, enterprise, etc.)
30 to bet on the success of
to back a horse
31 to provide with a back, backing, or lining
32 to provide with a music accompaniment
a soloist backed by an orchestra
33 to provide a background for; be at the back of
mountains back the town
34 to countersign or endorse
35 Archaic to mount the back of
36 intr; foll by: on or onto to have the back facing (towards)
the house backs onto a river
37 intr (of the wind) to change direction in an anticlockwise direction
Compare →
veer 1 →
3a
38 (Nautical) to position (a sail) so that the wind presses on its opposite side
a (Nautical) to manoeuvre the sails by alternately filling and emptying them of wind to navigate in a narrow place
b to vacillate in one's opinion
adj prenominal
40 situated behind
a back lane
41 of the past
back issues of a magazine
42 owing from an earlier date
back rent
43 (Chiefly U.S., Austral., and N.Z.) remote
back country
44 (of a road) not direct
45 moving in a backward direction
back current
46 (Phonetics) of, relating to, or denoting a vowel articulated with the tongue retracted towards the soft palate, as for the vowels in English hard, fall, hot, full, fool
adv
47 at, to, or towards the rear; away from something considered to be the front; backwards; behind
48 in, to, or towards the original starting point, place, or condition
to go back home, put the book back, my headache has come back
49 in or into the past
to look back on one's childhood
50 in reply, repayment, or retaliation
to hit someone back, pay back a debt, to answer back
51 in check
the dam holds back the water
52 in concealment; in reserve
to keep something back, to hold back information
53 ♦
back and forth to and fro
b in disorder, (See also)
→
back down →
back off →
back out →
back up
(Old English bæc; related to Old Norse bak, Old Frisian bek, Old High German bah)