backbone
nounEtymology
From Middle English bakbon, bakebon, bac-bon; equivalent to back + bone. Compare the semantically analogous English ridgebone.
- inherited from bakbon
Definitions
The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord,…
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.
- Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.
- Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been the backbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so.
Courage, fortitude, or strength.
- He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone.
- [Indiana:] I hate snakes, Jock! I hate 'em! [Jock:] Come on! Show a little backbone, will ya!
The neighborhood
- synonymspine
- synonymspinal column
- synonymvertebral column
- synonymbackbone
Vish — recursive loop
A definitional loop anchored at backbone. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.
A definitional loop anchored at backbone. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.
7 hops · closes at backbone
curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA