back

noun

• 1the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips:he lay on his back Forbes slapped me on the back [as modifier]:back pain
• the upper surface of an animal’s body that corresponds to a person’s back.
• the spine of a person or animal.
• the part of a chair against which the sitter’s back rests.
• the part of a garment that covers a person’s back.
• a person’s back regarded as carrying a load or bearing an imposition:they wanted the government off their backs

• 2the side or part of something that is away from the spectator or from the direction in which it moves or faces; the rear:at the back of the hotel is a secluded garden an empty spot in the back of the plane
• [in singular] the position directly behind someone or something:she unbuttoned her dress from the back
• the side or part of an object opposed to the one that is normally seen or used; the less active, visible, or important part of something:write on the back of a postcard he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand

• 3a player in a field game whose initial position is behind the front line:their backs showed some impressive running and passing

adverb

• 1toward the rear; in the opposite direction from the one that one is facing or traveling:she moved back a pace she walked away without looking back
• expressing movement of the body into a reclining position:he leaned back in his chair sit back and relax
• at a distance away:I thought you were miles back the officer pushed the crowd back
• (back of) North American informal behind:he knew that other people were back of him

• 2expressing a return to an earlier or normal condition:she put the book back on the shelf drive to Montreal and back I went back to sleep he was given his job back
• fashionable again:sideburns are back

• 3in or into the past:he made his fortune back in 1955
• at a place previously left or mentioned:the folks back home are counting on him

• 4in return:they wrote back to me

verb

• 1 [with object] give financial, material, or moral support to:he had a newspaper empire backing him go up there and tell them—I’ll back you up
• bet money on (a person or animal) winning a race or contest:he backed the horse at 33-1
• be in favor of:over 97 percent backed the changes
• supplement in order to reinforce or strengthen:U.S. troops were backed up by forces from European countries

• 2 [with object] cover the back of (an object) in order to support, protect, or decorate it:a mirror backed with tortoiseshell
• (especially in popular music) provide musical accompaniment to (a singer or musician):brisk guitar work backed by drums, bass, fiddle, and accordion
• put a song or piece of music on the less important side of (a recording):the new single is backed with a track from the LP

• 3 [no object] walk or drive backward:she tried to back away backing down the stairs figurativethe administration backed away from the plan [with object]:he backed the Mercedes into the yard
• (of the wind) change direction counterclockwise around the points of the compass:the wind had backed to the northwestThe opposite of veer¹.
• [with object] Sailing put (a sail) aback in order to slow the vessel down.

• 4 [no object] (of a property) have its back adjacent to (a piece of land or body of water):a row of cottages backed on the water his garage wall backs onto the neighboring property
• [with object] (usually be backed) lie behind or at the back of:the promenade is backed by lots of cafes

adjective

• 1of or at the back of something:the back garden the back pocket of his jeans
• situated in a remote or subsidiary position:back roads

• 2(especially of wages or something published or released) from or relating to the past:she was owed back pay

• 3directed toward the rear or in a reversed course:back currents

• 4 Phonetics (of a sound) articulated at the back of the mouth.