Dictionary entry details
• BACK (noun)
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"):
lumbar vertebra (one of 5 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; lumbar vertebrae extend from the twelfth thoracic vertebra down to the sacral vertebrae)
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)
lat; latisimus dorsi (a broad flat muscle on either side of the back)
small (the slender part of the back)
saddle (posterior part of the back of a domestic fowl)
Holonyms ("back" is a part of...):
body; torso; trunk (the body excluding the head and neck and limbs)
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"):
empennage; tail; tail assembly (the rear part of an aircraft)
after part; poop; quarter; stern; tail (the rear part of a ship)
Meaning:
The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Synonyms:
back; rear
Context examples:
he stood at the back of the stage / 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)
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"):
wingback ((football) the person who plays wingback)
tailback ((football) the person who plays tailback)
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)
field general; quarterback; signal caller ((football) the person who plays quarterback)
flanker; flanker back (a back stationed wide of the scrimmage line; used as a pass receiver)
Meaning:
The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
Classified under:
Nouns denoting body parts
Synonyms:
vertebral column; spine; spinal column; rachis; backbone; back
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"):
canalis vertebralis; spinal canal; vertebral canal (the canal in successive vertebrae through which the spinal cord passes)
coccyx; tail bone (the end of the vertebral column in humans and tailless apes)
vertebra (one of the bony segments of the spinal column)
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))
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)
Meaning:
The protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
book binding; cover; binding; back
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)
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)
Meaning:
A support that you can lean against while sitting
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
backrest; back
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"):
ladder-back (the backrest of a chair that consists of two uprights with connecting slats)
cantle (the back of a saddle seat)
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)
Meaning:
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 (the position of a defensive football player who plays close behind the line of scrimmage)
field general; quarterback; signal caller (the position of the football player in the backfield who directs the offensive play of his team)
fullback; halfback (the position of a back on a football team)
tailback (the position of the offensive back on a football team who lines up farthest from the line of scrimmage)
wingback (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)
• BACK (adjective)
Meaning:
Related to or located at the back
Context examples:
the back yard / 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 (at or near the hind end in quadrupeds or toward the spine in primates)
aft ((nautical, aeronautical) situated at or toward the stern or tail)
Antonym:
front (relating to or located in the front)
Meaning:
Located at or near the back of an animal
Synonyms:
hinder; hind; back
Context examples:
back (or hind) legs / the hinder part of a carcass
Similar:
posterior (at or near the hind end in quadrupeds or toward the spine in primates)
Meaning:
Of an earlier date
Context example:
back issues of the magazine
Similar:
noncurrent (not current or belonging to the present time)
• BACK (verb)
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 examples:
He plumped for the Labor Party / I backed Kennedy in 1960
Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):
approve; O.K.; okay; sanction (give sanction to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back"):
guarantee; warrant (stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of)
pull; root; side (take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for)
champion; defend (protect or fight for as a champion)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Travel backward
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context examples:
back into the driveway / 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)
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 up (move backwards from a certain position)
back out (move out of a space backwards)
back off; back down (move backwards from a certain position)
Meaning:
Give support or one's approval to
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
second; endorse; indorse; back
Context examples:
I'll second that motion / I can't back this plan / endorse a new project
Hypernyms (to "back" is one way to...):
back up; support (give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
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)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Antonym:
advance (cause to move forward)
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
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)
Meaning:
Place a bet on
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
bet on; gage; game; stake; punt; back
Context examples:
Which horse are you backing? / 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
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)
Meaning:
Establish as valid or genuine
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
back up; back
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
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
• BACK (adverb)
Meaning:
In or to or toward a former location
Context example:
she went back to her parents' house
Meaning:
At or to or toward the back or rear
Synonyms:
rearwards; rearward; backwards; backward; back
Context examples:
he moved back / tripped when he stepped backward / she looked rearward out the window of the car
Meaning:
In or to or toward an original condition
Context example:
he went back to sleep
Meaning:
In or to or toward a past time
Synonyms:
backward; back
Context examples:
set the clocks back an hour / never look back / lovers of the past looking fondly backward
Antonym:
ahead (toward the future; forward in time)
Meaning:
In answer
Synonyms:
in reply; back
Context examples:
he wrote back three days later / had little to say in reply to the questions
Meaning:
In repayment or retaliation
Context examples:
we paid back everything we had borrowed / he hit me and I hit him back / I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher
