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spine

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
spine  (spn)
n.
1. The spinal column of a vertebrate.
2. Zoology Any of various pointed projections, processes, or appendages of animals.
3. Botany A strong, sharp-pointed, usually woody outgrowth from a stem or leaf; a thorn.
4. Something that resembles or suggests a backbone, as:
a. The hinged back of a book.
b. The crest of a ridge.
5. Strength of character; courage or willpower.

[Middle English, from Old French espine, from Latin spna.]

spine
Noun
1. the row of bony segments that surround and protect the spinal cord
2. the back of a book, record sleeve, or video-tape box
3. a sharp point on the body of an animal or on a plant [Latin spina thorn]
spinal adj

spine  (spn)
2. Any of various pointed projections, processes, or appendages of animals.
3. A sharp-pointed projection on a plant, especially a hard, narrow modified leaf, as on a cactus, that is adapted to reduce water loss. Compare thorn. See more at leaf.

spinal adjective
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.spinespine - the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord; "the fall broke his 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
2.spine - any sharply pointed projection
projection - any solid convex shape that juts out from something
3.spinespine - a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf
aculeus - a stiff sharp-pointed plant process
glochid, glochidium - a barbed spine or bristle (often tufted on cacti)
4.spine - 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"
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.spine - a sharp rigid animal process or appendage; as a porcupine quill or a ridge on a bone or a ray of a fish fin
ray - any of the stiff bony spines in the fin of a fish
quill - a stiff hollow protective spine on a porcupine or hedgehog
appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process"

spine
noun 2. barb, spur, needle, spike, ray, quill
Translations
Spanish spine [spaɪn] nespinazo, columna vertebral (= thorn); espina
French spine [spaɪn] ncolonne vertébrale (= thorn); épine f, piquant m
German spine [spaɪn] n (Anat) → Rückgrat nt;
(thorn) → Stachel m

Italian spine [spaɪn] nspina dorsale (= thorn); spina

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
They then fell upon each other's neck and wept scalding rills down each other's spine in token of their banishment to the Realm of Ineffable Bosh.
Bear in mind, too, that under these untoward circumstances he has to cut many feet deep in the flesh; and in that subterraneous manner, without so much as getting one single peep into the ever-contracting gash thus made, he must skilfully steer clear of all adjacent, interdicted parts, and exactly divide the spine at a critical point hard by its insertion into the skull.
[5] The elater, when placed on its back and preparing to spring, moved its head and thorax backwards, so that the pectoral spine was drawn out, and rested on the edge of its sheath.
 
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