Word Finder - back

definition

The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.

example

Could you please scratch my back?

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That which is farthest away from the front.

example

He sat in the back of the room.

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Upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal's back.

example

The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.

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A support or resource in reserve.

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The keel and keelson of a ship.

example

The ship's back broke in the pounding surf.

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The roof of a horizontal underground passage.

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Effort, usually physical.

example

Put some back into it!

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A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.

example

Could I get a martini with a water back?

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Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.

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To go in the reverse direction.

example

the train backed into the station;  the horse refuses to back

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To support.

example

I back you all the way;  which horse are you backing in this race?

definition

(of the wind) To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

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(of a square sail) To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.

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(of an anchor) To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.

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(of a hunting dog) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.

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To push or force backwards.

example

The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.

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To get upon the back of; to mount.

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To place or seat upon the back.

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To make a back for; to furnish with a back.

example

to back books

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To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.

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To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.

example

to back a letter;  to back a note or legal document

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(of a justice of the peace) To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).

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To row backward with (oars).

example

to back the oars

definition

Near the rear.

example

Go in the back door of the house.

definition

Not current.

example

I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine.

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Far from the main area.

example

They took a back road.

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In arrear; overdue.

example

They still owe three months' back rent.

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Moving or operating backward.

example

back action

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Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).

example

The vowel of lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England.

definition

To or in a previous condition or place.

example

He gave back the money.   He needs his money back.   He was on vacation, but now he’s back.   The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back.

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Away from the front or from an edge.

example

Sit all the way back in your chair.

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In a manner that impedes.

example

Fear held him back.

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In a reciprocal manner; in return.

example

If you hurt me, I'll hurt you back.

definition

Earlier, ago.

example

I last saw him a day or two back.

Do you have to go back right away?

It was a long time back, before they were married.

I'm going back home.

Finally she drew back, breathless.

Turning the truck around, he headed back down the drive.

He hurried back to the pathway, and then ran to his mother.

His warm hands slid under her jacket, caressing her back through the thin T-shirt.

Tell me what news I may take back to my poor boy.

I make them because I believe I can back them up with convincing proofs and arguments.

His warm hands slid around her waist, pulling her back against him.

Strong arms slipped around her waist, drawing her back against him.

I'll be back in a little while, sweetheart.

Sometimes the new technology so overwhelms the old that when looking back, we explain the old technology in terms of the new.

Back outside, she headed for the barn.

Alex climbed into the car beside Carmen and placed his arm protectively on the back of the seat behind her neck.

The lad jumped awkwardly back into the room, tripping over his spurs.

At last, however, the sea, as if weary of its new toy, threw me back on the shore, and in another instant I was clasped in my teacher's arms.

One of the chairs pushed back from the table, and this was so astonishing and mysterious that Dorothy was almost tempted to run away in fright.

The emissaries, who themselves did not know the correct answer, were to bring the replies of the oracles back to the king.

A trip back to the house to drop off the eggs revealed a house still silent.

Ed merely looked at them and then back at Carmen.

He looked through them and then handed them back without comment.

She returned his kiss passionately, and when he pulled his head back, she gazed up at him.

Carmen went back to wrapping her present.

The shepherd led them gently back to the hut and gave them their usual supper of bread and milk.

He turned and walked briskly back to the market.

I'm going to make myself a sandwich and get back to work.

The Christmas tree could only be seen from the back of the house, but that didn't matter.

Her anxious gaze went from Carmen to Alex and back again.

Connie returned with a cool damp rag which she placed on Lisa's face and then the back of her neck.

Don't go back to the house.

She closed the tin and handed it back to him.

Then he commanded his army to march back to the city of Antium.

But the truth is that almost all furniture back in the day was cheaply made junk and only a very few high-quality pieces survived.

Humans require relatively little oxygen, and plants are constantly transforming the carbon dioxide we exhale back into useful oxygen.

Oh, the delight with which I gathered up the fruit in my pinafore, pressed my face against the smooth cheeks of the apples, still warm from the sun, and skipped back to the house!

Dolokhov's back in his white shirt, and his curly head, were lit up from both sides.

He leaned back, looking perplexed.

He asked her to go back to Houston with him, enticing her with rides on the beach - and love all night.

Leaning forward she reached up with one hand and cupped the back of his neck.

She had to go back to get them.

The white sand reflected the hot sun back at them until they were dripping with perspiration.

Let's give the mules a rest while I look over our back trail.

He lowered the glasses and rolled over on his back, gazing up into her face.

He pushed the hat back on his head and gazed up at her with troubled eyes.

He didn't seem concerned that she had refused to go back.

After a few hours of limited rest, they were back in the saddle again.

Several stories of empty rooms rewarded their search, but nothing more; so after a time they came back to the platform again.

Soon, with the gun in one hand, he crept back into the cave.

He was glad to go back to England to see his home and his friends once more.