1. The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
   "the fall broke his backbone";
   - spinal column, vertebral column, spine, back, rachis [technical]
    
2. A central cohesive source of support and stability
   "faith is his backbone";
   - anchor, mainstay, keystone, linchpin, lynchpin
    
3. Fortitude and determination
   "he didn't have the backbone to try it";
   - grit, guts, moxie [N. Amer, informal], sand [N. Amer, informal], gumption [informal], cojones [N. Amer]
    
4. The part of a network that connects other networks together
   "the backbone is the part of a communication network that carries the heaviest traffic"
    
5. The part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved
   "the title and author were printed on the backbone of the book";
   - spine

Derived forms: backbones

Type of: connecter, connection, connective, connector, connexion [Brit], fortitude, part, portion, skeletal structure, support

Part of: axial skeleton, book, mesh, meshing, meshwork, net, network, volume

Encyclopedia: Backbone