back

  • (noun): The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
  • (noun): That which is farthest away from the front.
  • (noun): Upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal's back.
  • (noun): A support or resource in reserve.
  • (noun): The keel and keelson of a ship.
  • (noun): The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
  • (noun): Effort, usually physical.
  • (noun): A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
  • (noun): Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
  • (verb): To go in the reverse direction.
  • (verb): To support.
  • (verb): (of the wind) To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
  • (verb): (of a square sail) To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.
  • (verb): (of an anchor) To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
  • (verb): (of a hunting dog) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
  • (verb): To push or force backwards.
  • (verb): To get upon the back of; to mount.
  • (verb): To place or seat upon the back.
  • (verb): To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
  • (verb): To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
  • (verb): To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
  • (verb): (of a justice of the peace) To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
  • (verb): To row backward with (oars).
  • (adjective): Near the rear.
  • (adjective): Not current.
  • (adjective): Far from the main area.
  • (adjective): In arrear; overdue.
  • (adjective): Moving or operating backward.
  • (adjective): Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).
  • (adverb): To or in a previous condition or place.
  • (adverb): Away from the front or from an edge.
  • (adverb): In a manner that impedes.
  • (adverb): In a reciprocal manner; in return.
  • (adverb): Earlier, ago.
  • Could you please scratch my back?
  • He sat in the back of the room.
  • The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.
  • The ship's back broke in the pounding surf.
  • Put some back into it!