1. The posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
   "his back was nicely tanned";
   - dorsum
    
2. The side that goes last or is not normally seen
   "he wrote the date on the back of the photograph";
   - rear
    
3. The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
   "he stood at the back of the stage";
   - rear
    
4. The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
   "the fall broke his back";
   - spinal column, vertebral column, spine, backbone, rachis [technical]
    
5. The part of a garment that covers the back of your body
   "they pinned a ‘kick me’ sign on his back"
    
6. A support that you can lean against while sitting
   "the back of the dental chair was adjustable";
   - backrest
    
7. (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage
   "The quarterback, as a back, needs to read the defence quickly"
    
8. (football) a person who plays in the backfield
   "The running back broke through the defensive line for a touchdown"
    
9. Protective covering or reinforcement on the rear or outer surface of something
   "The clock's back was made of metal"; "She removed the back of the photo frame"

1. Related to or located at the back
   "the back yard"; "the back entrance"
    
2. Located at or near the back of an animal
   "back legs";
   - hind, hinder
    
3. Of an earlier date
   "back issues of the magazine"
    
4. Far from the main area or way
   "she knows a back route"

1. At or to or toward the back or rear
   "he moved back";
   - backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
    
2. In, to or toward a former location
   "she went back to her parents' house"
    
3. In, to or toward an original condition
   "he went back to sleep"
    
4. In, to or toward a past time
   "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back";
   - backward
    
5. In reply
   "he wrote back three days later"
    
6. In repayment or retaliation
   "I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher"; "we paid back everything we had borrowed"; "he hit me and I hit him back"

1. Actively promote or advocate for someone to take on a particular role
   "I backed Kennedy in 1960";
   - endorse, indorse [rare], plump for, support
    
2. Travel backward
   "back into the driveway"; "The car backed up and hit the tree"
    
3. Give support or one's approval to
   "I can't back this plan";
   - second, endorse, indorse [rare]
    
4. Support financial backing for
   "back this enterprise"
    
5. Cause to travel backward
   "back the car into the parking spot"
    
6. Be in back of
   "My garage backs their yard"
    
7. Gamble on something
   "Which horse are you backing?";
   - bet on, gage [archaic], stake, game, punt
    
8. Shift to a counterclockwise direction
   "the wind backed"
    
9. Establish as valid or genuine
   "Can you back up your claims?";
   - back up
    
10. Strengthen by providing with a back or backing
    "They backed the fragile painting with a sturdy frame"

Derived forms: backed, backs, backing

See also: aft, back down, back out, backmost, bet, hindermost, hindmost, noncurrent, posterior, rear, rearmost, rearward

Type of: affirm, approve, back up, bet, body part, cause, change over, cloth covering, confirm, corroborate, finance, football player [N. Amer], footballer [N. Amer], get, go, greenlight, green-light, have, induce, lie, locomote, make, move, O.K., OK, okay, place, play, position, sanction, shift, side, skeletal structure, stimulate, strengthen, substantiate, support, sustain, switch, toughen, travel, wager

Antonym: advance, ahead, front, look, veer

Part of: axial skeleton, backfield, body, car seat, chair, secondary, torso, trunk

Encyclopedia: Back, Lewis