| / English Dictionary |
BACK
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
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"):
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) 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)
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)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A support that you can lean against while sitting
Example:
the back of the dental chair was adjustable
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
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 3
Meaning:
The part of a garment that covers the back of your body
Example:
they pinned a 'kick me' sign on his back
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):
cloth covering (a covering made of cloth)
Sense 4
Meaning:
The protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
Example:
the book had a leather binding
Synonyms:
back; binding; book binding; cover
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
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 5
Meaning:
The side that goes last or is not normally seen
Example:
he wrote the date on the back of the photograph
Synonyms:
back; rear
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("back" is a kind of...):
side (an extended outer surface of an object)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "back"):
empennage; tail; tail assembly (the rear part of an aircraft)
after part; poop; quarter; stern; tail (the rear part of a ship)
Derivation:
back (be in back of)
Sense 6
Meaning:
The posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
Example:
his back was nicely tanned
Synonyms:
back; dorsum
Classified under:
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 7
Meaning:
The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
Example:
the fall broke his back
Synonyms:
back; backbone; rachis; spinal column; spine; vertebral column
Classified under:
Nouns denoting body parts
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))
vertebra (one of the bony segments of the spinal column)
coccyx; tail bone (the end of the vertebral column in humans and tailless apes)
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 8
Meaning:
The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
Example:
it was hidden in the rear of the store
Synonyms:
back; rear
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
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 9
Meaning:
(football) a person who plays in the backfield
Classified under:
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)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Located at or near the back of an animal
Example:
the hinder part of a carcass
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Similar:
posterior (located at or near or behind a part or near the end of a structure)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Related to or located at the back
Example:
the back entrance
Classified under:
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 3
Meaning:
Of an earlier date
Example:
back issues of the magazine
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
noncurrent (not current or belonging to the present time)
III. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they back ... he / she / it backs
Past simple: backed
Past participle: backed
-ing form: backing
Sense 1
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)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Establish as valid or genuine
Example:
Can you back up your claims?
Synonyms:
back; back up
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
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 3
Meaning:
Shift to a counterclockwise direction
Example:
the wind backed
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
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 4
Meaning:
Place a bet on
Example:
I'm betting on the new horse
Synonyms:
back; bet on; gage; game; punt; stake
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
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 5
Meaning:
Travel backward
Example:
The car backed up and hit the tree
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
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 6
Meaning:
Cause to travel backward
Example:
back the car into the parking spot
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
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 7
Meaning:
Support financial backing for
Example:
back this enterprise
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
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 8
Meaning:
Be behind; approve of
Example:
I backed Kennedy in 1960
Synonyms:
back; endorse; indorse; plump for; plunk for; support
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
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 9
Meaning:
Give support or one's approval to
Example:
endorse a new project
Synonyms:
back; endorse; indorse; second
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
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 10
Meaning:
Be in back of
Example:
My garage backs their yard
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
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)
IV. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
In or to or toward a past time
Example:
lovers of the past looking fondly backward
Synonyms:
back; backward
Classified under:
Antonym:
ahead (toward the future; forward in time)
Sense 2
Meaning:
At or to or toward the back or rear
Example:
she looked rearward out the window of the car
Synonyms:
back; backward; backwards; rearward; rearwards
Classified under:
Sense 3
Meaning:
In repayment or retaliation
Example:
I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 4
Meaning:
In or to or toward a former location
Example:
she went back to her parents' house
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 5
Meaning:
In or to or toward an original condition
Example:
he went back to sleep
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 6
Meaning:
In reply
Example:
he wrote back three days later
Classified under:
Adverbs
Context examples:
The stem cells can then be collected, stored, and given back to the patient.
(AMD 3100, NCI Dictionary)
Issue associated with setting a variable, register, or other storage location back to a prescribed state.
(Medical Device Reset Issue, Food and Drug Administration)
Issue associated with drawing back the device and/or device component to an intended location.
(Medical Device Retraction Problem, Food and Drug Administration)
Measuring the amount of MUC-1 in the blood may help to find out how well cancer treatment is working or if cancer has come back.
(MUC-1, NCI Dictionary)
Nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval; his presence brought back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home so dear to my recollection.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
At their backs rose a perpendicular wall of rock, and Perrault and François were compelled to make their fire and spread their sleeping robes on the ice of the lake itself.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
The bear and the wolf grew uneasy, and turned back and went into their holes.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
An ultrasonic examination of the fetus to confirm gestational age by assessing and measuring for the clear space at the back of the fetal neck using external calipers.
(Nuchal Translucency Screen, NCI Thesaurus)
The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, which seemed to mock my own disappointment.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
The percentage of the area under the curve (AUC) extrapolated to infinity that was due to back extrapolation to estimate concentration at time zero, based upon observed values.
(Observed Area Under the Curve Percent Back Extrapolation, NCI Thesaurus)
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