BACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does back mean? 

• BACK (noun)
  The noun BACK has 9 senses:

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

2. the side that goes last or is not normally seen

3. the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer

4. (football) a person who plays in the backfield

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

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

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

8. a support that you can lean against while sitting

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

  Familiarity information: BACK used as a noun is familiar.

• BACK (adjective)
  The adjective BACK has 3 senses:

1. related to or located at the back

2. located at or near the back of an animal

3. of an earlier date

  Familiarity information: BACK used as an adjective is uncommon.

• BACK (verb)
  The verb BACK has 10 senses:

1. be behind; approve of

2. travel backward

3. give support or one's approval to

4. cause to travel backward

5. support financial backing for

6. be in back of

7. place a bet on

8. shift to a counterclockwise direction

9. establish as valid or genuine

10. strengthen by providing with a back or backing

  Familiarity information: BACK used as a verb is familiar.

• BACK (adverb)
  The adverb BACK has 6 senses:

1. in or to or toward a former location

2. at or to or toward the back or rear

3. in or to or toward an original condition

4. in or to or toward a past time

5. in reply

6. in repayment or retaliation

  Familiarity information: BACK used as an adverb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BACK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

back; dorsum

Context example:

his back was nicely tanned

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Meronyms (parts of "back"):

saddle (posterior part of the back of a domestic fowl)

small (the slender part of the back)

lat; latissimus dorsi (a broad flat muscle on either side of the back)

dorsal vertebra; thoracic vertebra (one of 12 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; thoracic vertebrae extend from the seventh cervical vertebra down to the first lumbar vertebra)

lumbar vertebra (one of 5 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; lumbar vertebrae extend from the twelfth thoracic vertebra down to the sacral vertebrae)

Holonyms ("back" is a part of...):

body; torso; trunk (the body excluding the head and neck and limbs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The side that goes last or is not normally seen

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

back; rear

Context example:

he wrote the date on the back of the photograph

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

side (an extended outer surface of an object)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "back"):

after part; poop; quarter; stern; tail (the rear part of a ship)

empennage; tail; tail assembly (the rear part of an aircraft)

Derivation:

back (be in back of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

back; rear

Context example:

it was hidden in the rear of the store

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

place; position (the particular portion of space occupied by something)

Antonym:

front (the part of something that is nearest to the normal viewer)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(football) a person who plays in the backfield

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

football player; footballer (an athlete who plays American football)

Domain category:

football; football game (any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "back"):

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)

Sense 5

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

back; backbone; rachis; spinal column; spine; vertebral column

Context example:

the fall broke his back

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

skeletal structure (any structure created by the skeleton of an organism)

Meronyms (parts of "back"):

intervertebral disc; intervertebral disk (a fibrocartilaginous disc serving as a cushion between all of the vertebrae of the spinal column (except between the first two))

coccyx; tail bone (the end of the vertebral column in humans and tailless apes)

vertebra (one of the bony segments of the spinal column)

canalis vertebralis; spinal canal; vertebral canal (the canal in successive vertebrae through which the spinal cord passes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "back"):

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)

Holonyms ("back" is a part of...):

axial skeleton (the part of the skeleton that includes the skull and spinal column and sternum and ribs)

Sense 6

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

back; binding; book binding; cover

Context example:

the book had a leather binding

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

protection; protective cover; protective covering (a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "back"):

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)

Holonyms ("back" is a part of...):

book; volume (physical objects consisting of a number of pages bound together)

Derivation:

back (strengthen by providing with a back or backing)

Sense 7

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

they pinned a 'kick me' sign on his back

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

cloth covering (a covering made of cloth)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A support that you can lean against while sitting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

back; backrest

Context example:

the back of the dental chair was adjustable

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

support (any device that bears the weight of another thing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "back"):

cantle (the back of a saddle seat)

ladder-back (the backrest of a chair that consists of two uprights with connecting slats)

Holonyms ("back" is a part of...):

car seat (a seat in a car)

chair (a seat for one person, with a support for the back)

Sense 9

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):

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

Domain category:

American football; American football game (a game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "back"):

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) an offensive position in the backfield)

halfback ((American football) an offensive back usually positioned behind the quarterback and to the side of the fullback)

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)

line backer; linebacker ((American football) the position of a defensive football player who plays close behind the line of scrimmage)

Holonyms ("back" is a member of...):

backfield (the offensive football players who line up behind the linemen)

secondary (the defensive football players who line up behind the linemen)

• BACK (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Related to or located at the back

Context example:

the back entrance

Similar:

backmost; hindermost; hindmost; rearmost (located farthest to the rear)

rear; rearward (located in or toward the back or rear)

Also:

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)

Antonym:

front (relating to or located in the front)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Located at or near the back of an animal

Synonyms:

back; hind; hinder

Context example:

the hinder part of a carcass

Similar:

posterior (located at or near or behind a part or near the end of a structure)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of an earlier date

Context example:

back issues of the magazine

Similar:

noncurrent (not current or belonging to the present time)

• BACK (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be behind; approve of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

back; endorse; indorse; plump for; plunk for; support

Context example:

I backed Kennedy in 1960

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

approve; O.K.; okay; sanction (give sanction to)

Verb group:

back; endorse; indorse; second (give support or one's approval to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back"):

guarantee; warrant (stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of)

champion; defend (protect or fight for as a champion)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

backing (the act of providing approval and support)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Travel backward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The car backed up and hit the tree

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

back (cause to travel backward)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back"):

back out (move out of a space backwards)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

back down; back off (move backwards from a certain position)

back out (move out of a space backwards)

back up (move backwards from a certain position)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give support or one's approval to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

back; endorse; indorse; second

Context example:

endorse a new project

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

back up; support (give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to)

Verb group:

back; endorse; indorse; plump for; plunk for; support (be behind; approve of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

backing (the act of providing approval and support)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to travel backward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

back the car into the parking spot

Cause:

back (travel backward)

Verb group:

back (travel backward)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Antonym:

advance (cause to move forward)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Support financial backing for

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

back this enterprise

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

finance (obtain or provide money for)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue back the movie

Derivation:

backer (invests in a theatrical production)

backing (the act of providing approval and support)

backing (financial resources provided to make some project possible)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Be in back of

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

My garage backs their yard

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

lie (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Antonym:

front (be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to)

Derivation:

back (the side that goes last or is not normally seen)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Place a bet on

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

back; bet on; gage; game; punt; stake

Context example:

I'm betting on the new horse

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

bet; play; wager (stake on the outcome of an issue)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back"):

ante (place one's stake)

double up; parlay (stake winnings from one bet on a subsequent wager)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s on something

Sense 8

Meaning:

Shift to a counterclockwise direction

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

the wind backed

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

change over; shift; switch (make a shift in or exchange of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

veer (shift to a clockwise direction)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Establish as valid or genuine

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

back; back up

Context example:

Can you back up your claims?

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

affirm; confirm; corroborate; substantiate; support; sustain (establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Strengthen by providing with a back or backing

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):

strengthen (gain strength)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

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

backing (something forming a back that is added for strengthening)

• BACK (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In or to or toward a former location

Context example:

she went back to her parents' house

Sense 2

Meaning:

At or to or toward the back or rear

Synonyms:

back; backward; backwards; rearward; rearwards

Context example:

she looked rearward out the window of the car

Sense 3

Meaning:

In or to or toward an original condition

Context example:

he went back to sleep

Sense 4

Meaning:

In or to or toward a past time

Synonyms:

back; backward

Context example:

lovers of the past looking fondly backward

Antonym:

ahead (toward the future; forward in time)

Sense 5

Meaning:

In reply

Context example:

he wrote back three days later

Sense 6

Meaning:

In repayment or retaliation

Context example:

I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher

 Context examples 

He pulled out his watch, and after some fumbling got it back into the breast pocket of his thick woollen jacket.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The free carnitine is transported back out to renew the cytoplasmic pool of carnitine and allow the transfer process to continue.

(Mitochondrial Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I could feel the quiet sneer through his words, but demanded, “How can I get it back again?”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Ran-BP1 and Ran-GAP1 stimulate GTP hydrolysis by Ran, converting it back to Ran-GDP further away from chromosomes.

(Mitotic Spindle Regulation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The response is characterized by the infant's arms symmetrically spreading out to the side and then back to the midline, and involuntarily flexion of the fingers and toes.

(Moro Reflex, NCI Thesaurus)

Here he turned swiftly down a narrow passage, passed through a wooden gate into a deserted yard, and then opened with a key the back door of a house.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It occurs more frequently on the scalp, face, orbit, back, buttocks, extremities, hands, and feet.

(Melanoma Arising from Blue Nevus, NCI Thesaurus)

A solid composed of an impermeable occlusive backing, a formulation matrix in which the active and/or inert ingredient(s) are dissolved or dispersed and an adhesive layer.

(Medicated Adhesive Patch Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

The body is compact, with a short back.

(American Cocker Spaniel, NCI Thesaurus)