First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1back
noun \ˈbak\
: the rear part of the body : the part of the body that is opposite to the stomach and chest and that goes from the neck to the top of the legs
: the part of an animal that is like a person's back
: the side or surface of something that is opposite the front or face : the rear side or surface of something
Full Definition of BACK
1
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 (3) : capacity for labor, effort, or endurance (4) : the back considered as the seat of one's awareness of duty or failings <get off my back> (5) : the back considered as an area of vulnerability <the police officer's partner always watches his back> b : the part of a lower animal (as a quadruped) corresponding to the human back c : spinal column d : spine 1c
2
a : the side or surface opposite the front or face : the rear part; also : the farther or reverse side b : something at or on the back for support <back of a chair> c : a place away from the front <sat in back>
3
: a position in some games behind the front line of players; also : a player in this position
— backed \ˈbakt\ adjective
— back·less \ˈbak-ləs\ adjective
— back of one's hand or back of the hand
: a show of contempt
— back of one's mind
: the part of one's mind where thoughts and memories are stored to be drawn on
— behind one's back
: without one's knowledge
— in back of
: behind
See back defined for English-language learners
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Origin of BACK
Middle English, from Old English bæc; akin to Old High German bah back, Old Norse bak
Other Anatomy Terms
2back
adverb
: in, toward, or at the back or rear
: to, toward, or in the place where someone or something was previously
: in or into the past : backward in time
Full Definition of BACK
1
2
a : to, toward, or in a place from which a person or thing came b : to or toward a former state c : in return or reply
See back defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BACK
13th century
3back
adjective
: of or relating to the back : located at the back
: far from a central or main area
: not yet paid : owed from an earlier time
Full Definition of BACK
1
a : being at or in the back <back door> b : distant from a central or main area <back roads> c : articulated at or toward the back of the oral passage <back vowels>
2
: having returned or been returned
3
: being in arrears : overdue
5
: not current <back issues of a magazine>
6
: constituting the final 9 holes of an 18-hole golf course
See back defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BACK
15th century
4back
verb
: to give help to (someone)
: to bet on (someone or something)
: to provide evidence that supports (something)
Full Definition of BACK
transitive verb
1
a : to support by material or moral assistance b : substantiate c : to assume financial responsibility for d : to provide musical accompaniment for —often used with up
2
a : to cause to go back or in reverse b : to articulate (a sound) with the tongue farther back
3
a : to furnish with a back b : to be at the back of
intransitive verb
1
: to move backward —often used with up
2
of the wind : to shift counterclockwise — compare veer
3
: to have the back in the direction of something
— back·er \ˈba-kər\ noun
— back and fill
1
: to manage the sails of a ship so as to keep it clear of obstructions as it floats down with the current of a river or channel
2
: to take opposite positions alternately : shilly-shally
— back into
: to get into inadvertently <backed into the antiques business>
See back defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BACK
1548
Related to BACK
- Synonyms
- advocate, support, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for)
- Antonyms
- hinder
Synonym Discussion of BACK
support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition. support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given <supports waterfront development>. uphold implies extended support given to something attacked <upheld the legitimacy of the military action>. advocate stresses urging or pleading <advocated prison reform>. back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling <refusing to back the call for sanctions>. champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause <championed the rights of children>.
recede, retreat, retract, back mean to move backward. recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space <the flood waters gradually receded>. retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached <retreating soldiers>. retract implies drawing back from an extended position <a cat retracting its claws>. back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion <backed off on the throttle>.
recede, retreat, retract, back mean to move backward. recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space <the flood waters gradually receded>. retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached <retreating soldiers>. retract implies drawing back from an extended position <a cat retracting its claws>. back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion <backed off on the throttle>.
Back
geographical name \ˈbak\
Definition of BACK
river 605 miles (974 kilometers) Canada in Nunavut rising along border with Northwest Territories & flowing ENE into Arctic Ocean
BACKER Defined for Kids
1back
noun \ˈbak\
Definition of BACK for Kids
1
: the rear part of the human body from the neck to the end of the spine : the upper part of the body of an animal
2
: the part of something that is opposite or away from the front part
3
: a player in a team game who plays behind the forward line of players
— backed \ˈbakt\ adjective <a high-backed chair>
2back
adverb
Definition of BACK for Kids
1
: to, toward, or at the rear <The crowd moved back.>
2
: in or to a former time, state, or place <I started working here some years back.> <I'll be right back.>
3
: under control <I kept back my anger.>
4
: in return or reply <Please write back.> <Give me back my bike.>
— back and forth
1
: toward the back and then toward the front
2
: between two places or people <They sailed back and forth across the lake.>
3back
adjective
Definition of BACK for Kids
1
: located at the back <the back door>
2
: far from a central or main area <back roads>
3
: not yet paid : overdue <He owes back rent.>
4
: no longer published <back issues of a magazine>
4back
verb
backedback·ing
Definition of BACK for Kids
1
: to give support or help to : uphold <Which candidate are you backing?>
2
: to move back <She backed out of the garage.>
— back·er noun
— back down
: to stop arguing or fighting for something <You just can't back down and let people say I told you so. — Oliver Butterworth, The Enormous Egg>
— back off
: to back down
— back out
: to decide not to do something after agreeing to do it
Medical Dictionary
back
noun \ˈbak\
Medical Definition of BACK
1
a : the rear part of the human body especially from the neck to the end of the spine b : the corresponding part of a lower animal (as a quadruped) c : spinal column
2
: the part of the upper surface of the tongue behind the front and lying opposite the soft palate when the tongue is at rest
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