plural backs
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
They were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
(3)
: capacity for labor, effort, or endurance
Put your back into it!
(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 (such as a quadruped) corresponding to the human back
riding on the back of an elephant
c
: spinal column
She had surgery on her back.
d
: spine sense 1c
The title is on the book's back.
2
a
: the side or surface opposite the front or face
I only saw him from the back.
: the rear part
the back of the head
the back of the mirror
also
: the farther or reverse side
wrote the number on the back of an envelope
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 (such as football or soccer) behind the front line of players
also
: a player in this position
a defensive back
4
informal
: a swimming race in which swimmers use the backstroke
She placed first in the 100-meter back.
1
a
: to, toward, or at the rear
asked the crowd to move back
c
: to or at an angle off the vertical
leaned back on his chair
d(1)
: under restraint
He wanted to fight but his friends held him back.
holding back a laugh
(2)
: in or into a delayed condition
Bad weather set the launch date back several days.
The meeting was pushed back at the last minute.
Season 2's final episodes were held back for a few weeks … before finally airing.—Nick Valdez
e
: in an inferior or secondary position
especially
: behind a competitor in points or ranking
finished three strokes back
2
a
: to, toward, or in a place from which a person or thing came
She left home and never went back.
put the book back
b
: to or toward a former state
went back to private life
c
: in return or reply
forgot to write back
1
a
: being at or in the back
back door
b
: distant from a central or main area
back roads
c
of a speech sound
: articulated at or toward the back of the oral passage : formed deep within the mouth
back vowels
2
: having returned or been returned
5
: not current
back issues of a magazine
6
golf
: constituting the final 9 holes of an 18-hole course
backed; backing; backs
1
a
: to support by material or moral assistance
backing a candidate for governor
—often used with upback up a friend in a fight
b
: substantiate
—often used with up
needs to back up her argument with evidence
c
: to assume financial responsibility for
back a new company
d
: to provide musical accompaniment for
—often used with up
a singer backed up by a guitarist
2
a
: to cause to go back (see back entry 2 sense 1a) or in reverse
back the car into the garage
b
: to articulate (a speech sound) with the tongue farther back : to form deeper within the mouth
3
a
: to furnish with a rear part : to furnish with a back (see back entry 1 sense 2)
back a skirt with stiff material
b
: to be at the rear part of : to be at the back (see back entry 1 sense 2) of
a row of garages back the building
1
: to move backward
backed into a parking space
—often used with upback up to give him some space
Let's back up a little to clarify what we're saying.
2
of the wind
: to shift counterclockwise compare veer entry 1 sense 2
3
: to have the rear part facing in the direction of something
The house backs onto a golf course.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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