backbone

back·bone  (bkbn)

n.

1. The vertebrate spine or spinal column.

2. Something, such as the keel of a ship, that resembles a backbone.

3. A main support or major sustaining factor: the backbone of a thesis.

4. Geology

a. A ridge forming the principal axis of a mountain.

b. The principal mountain ridge, range, or system of a region.

5. Chemistry The main chain of atoms in a polymer.

6. Strength of character; determination: displayed grit and backbone in facing adversity.

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backboned adj.

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backbone [ˈbækˌbəʊn]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) a nontechnical name for spinal column

2. something that resembles the spinal column in function, position, or appearance

3. strength of character; courage

4. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) the main or central mountain range of a country or region

5. (Transport / Nautical Terms) Nautical the main longitudinal members of a vessel, giving structural strength

6. (Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) Computing (in computer networks) a large-capacity, high-speed central section by which other network segments are connected

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backbone  (bkbn)

See vertebral column.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	backbone - a central cohesive source of support and stability; "faith is his anchor"; "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"; "he is the linchpin of this firm" keystone, linchpin, lynchpin, mainstay, anchor support - something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest; "the policy found little public support"; "his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed the support of their fans"
	2.	backbone - fortitude and determination; "he didn't have the guts to try it" guts, moxie, grit, gumption, sand fortitude - strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech
	3.	backbone - the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord; "the fall broke his back" spinal column, spine, vertebral column, rachis, back notochord - a flexible rodlike structure that forms the supporting axis of the body in the lowest chordates and lowest vertebrates and in embryos of higher vertebrates chine - backbone of an animal canalis vertebralis, spinal canal, vertebral canal - the canal in successive vertebrae through which the spinal cord passes coccyx, tail bone - the end of the vertebral column in humans and tailless apes vertebra - one of the bony segments of the spinal column intervertebral disc, intervertebral disk - a fibrocartilaginous disc serving as a cushion between all of the vertebrae of the spinal column (except between the first two) skeletal structure - any structure created by the skeleton of an organism axial skeleton - the part of the skeleton that includes the skull and spinal column and sternum and ribs
	4.	backbone - 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 spine of the book" spine book, volume - physical objects consisting of a number of pages bound together; "he used a large book as a doorstop" part, portion - something less than the whole of a human artifact; "the rear part of the house"; "glue the two parts together"
	5.	backbone - the part of a network that connects other networks together; "the backbone is the part of a communication network that carries the heaviest traffic" connecter, connector, connective, connection, connexion - an instrumentality that connects; "he soldered the connection"; "he didn't have the right connector between the amplifier and the speakers" meshwork, meshing, network, mesh, net - an open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals

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backbone

noun

1. spinal column, back, spine, vertebrae, vertebral column She doubled over, snapping her backbone and breaking her arm.

2. foundation, support, base, basis, mainstay, bedrock the economic backbone of the nation

3. strength of character, will, balls (taboo slang), character, bottle (Brit. slang), resolution, resolve, nerve, daring, courage, determination, guts, pluck, stamina, grit, bravery, fortitude, toughness, tenacity, willpower, mettle, boldness, firmness, spunk (informal), fearlessness, steadfastness, moral fibre, hardihood, ballsiness (taboo slang), dauntlessness You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.

Translations

backbone [ˈbækbəʊn] N

1. (Anat) → columna f vertebral, espina f dorsal
a patriot to the backbone → un patriota hasta la médula

2. (fig) (= courage) → agallas fpl; (= strength) → resistencia f
the backbone of the organisation → el pilar de la organización

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backbone [ˈbækbəʊn] n

(= spine) [person, animal] → colonne f vertébrale, épine f dorsale

(= mainstay)
He's the backbone of the organization → C'est sur lui que repose l'organisation.

(= guts, determination)
He has no backbone → Il n'a pas de cran. >
He doesn't have the backbone to do it → Il n'a pas le cran > de le faire.
back-breaking backbreaking [ˈbækbreɪkɪŋ] adj [work, labour] → éreintant(e)
back burner backburner [ˌbækˈbɜː^rnə^r] n
on the back burner → en veilleuse
to put sth on the back burner → mettre qch en veilleuse
back catalogue n [musician] → anciens enregistrements mpl

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backbone [ˈbækˌbəʊn] n (also) (fig) → spina dorsale
the backbone of the organization → l'anima dell'organizzazione
he's got no backbone → è uno smidollato

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backbone → عمود فقري páteř rygrad Rückgrat σπονδυλική στήλη columna vertebral selkäranka colonne vertébrale kralježnica spina dorsale 背骨 등뼈 ruggengraat ryggrad kręgosłup espinha dorsal позвоночник ryggrad กระดูกสันหลัง omurga xương sống 脊椎