backbone

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.
Courage, fortitude, or strength.

/ˈbækˌbəʊn/ /ˈbækˌboʊn/ en-us-backbone.ogg

backbone backbones back bone

From Middle English bakbon, bakebon, bac-bon; equivalent to back + bone. Compare the semantically analogous English ridgebone.

spine spinal column vertebral column backbone

backboned backboneless Bustamante backbone devil's backbone to the backbone

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.

Back to search All on B Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary