Definition Synonyms
Definition of backbone - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
medicalthe series of vertebrae protecting the spinal cord
- The doctor examined the patient's backbone for injuries.
2.
supportthe main support of a system or organization
- The volunteers are the backbone of the charity.
3.
technologyTECH. the central part of a network connecting segmentsTECH.
- The backbone of the internet ensures global connectivity.
4.
charactercourage or strength of character
- She showed backbone by standing up to the bully.
5.
bookRare the spine of a book's coverRare
- The title is printed on the backbone of the book.
Images of backbone

the spine of a book's cover
Expressions with backbone
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
most important part of something
The volunteers are the backbone of the organization.
lack of courage or strength to stand up for oneself
He has no backbone and never speaks up for himself.
most important part providing support and stability
The dedicated team is the backbone of the organisation.
most essential part of an organization
The IT department is the backbone of the organization.
be the most important part of something
Small businesses form the backbone of the economy.
become more courageous or assertive
He needs to grow a backbone and stand up to his boss.
to be brave and strong
She showed she has a backbone by standing up to the bully.
be indecisive or weak-willed
She lacks backbone when making tough decisions.
demonstrate courage or determination
She decided to show some backbone and confront her boss about the issue.
strong and reliable support or foundation
The team has a solid backbone of experienced players.
central high-capacity network that links and carries traffic for smaller networks
The company upgraded its backbone network to support more video conferencing traffic.
company providing main network infrastructure services
The backbone operator ensures reliable internet connectivity.
completely or thoroughly
He is loyal to the backbone.
Origin of backbone
Old English, bæc (back) + bān (bone)
Terms with backbone included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
animal biology
animal with a backbone or spinal column
organism
relating to animals with a backbone or spinal column
internet backbone
entity managing network infrastructure
medical
lower back part of the backbone containing the lumbar vertebrae
medical
relating to the spine or backbone
zoology
animal without a backbone
biology
relating to animals without a backbone
medical
serious harm to the backbone or the nerve cord inside it
medical
middle part of backbone in chest region between neck and lower back
rail transport
main railway line forming network backbone
animal
lacking a backbone or spinal column
cooking
cut of meat with part of the backbone
butchery
cut through the backbone of an animal
medical
having a particular type of chine or backbone
chemistry
polysaccharide with mannose backbone and galactose sidechains
chemistry
polymer where side chains of another polymer are attached to its backbone
embryo anatomy
flexible rod in embryos of chordates, replaced by backbone in adults
medical
long thin bone in fish extending from backbone
meat cut
cut of lamb with backbone and loins
chemistry
compound with a silicon-oxygen backbone and organic groups attached
health term
with regard to the backbone or within its nerve channel
acr: Site-Specific Backbone Modification
change made to a specific part of a backbone structure
Examples of backbone in a sentence
Yoga can help strengthen your backbone. The IT department is the backbone of the company. Farmers form the backbone of the rural economy. The backbone supports multiple data centers across the region. A robust backbone is crucial for seamless communication. He had the backbone to voice his unpopular opinion.
Facing adversity requires a strong backbone. The librarian repaired the backbone of the old book. Dust gathered on the backbone of the forgotten tome.
View all translations of backbone
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:colonne vertébrale, ossature, ...
- German:Wirbelsäule, Stütze, ...
- Italian:spina dorsale, colonna portante, ...
- Spanish:columna vertebral, pilar, ...
- Portuguese:coluna vertebral, espinha dorsal, ...
- Chinese:脊椎, 支柱, ...
- Japanese:背骨, 中核, ...
- Arabic:العَمُود الفِقَرِي, عَمُود فَقَرِي, ...
- Hebrew:עַמּוּד הַשִּׁדְרָה, עַמּוּד הַתָּוֶוךְ, ...
- Russian:позвоночник, основа, ...
- Ukrainian:хребет, основа, ...
- Hindi:रीढ़, मुख्य आधार, ...
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