The Meaning of back

• (n.) A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
• (n.) A ferryboat. See Bac, 1.
• (n.) In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish, or lobster.
• (n.) An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
• (n.) The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.
• (n.) The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.
• (n.) The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
• (n.) The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
• (n.) A support or resource in reserve.
• (n.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
• (n.) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
• (n.) A garment for the back; hence, clothing.
• (a.) Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
• (a.) Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
• (a.) Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
• (v. i.) To get upon the back of; to mount.
• (v. i.) To place or seat upon the back.
• (v. i.) To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
• (v. i.) To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
• (v. i.) To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
• (v. i.) To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
• (v. i.) To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend.
• (v. i.) To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
• (v. i.) To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
• (v. i.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
• (v. i.) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog.
• (adv.) In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
• (adv.) To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.
• (adv.) To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
• (adv.) (Of time) In times past; ago.
• (adv.) Away from contact; by reverse movement.
• (adv.) In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
• (adv.) In a state of restraint or hindrance.
• (adv.) In return, repayment, or requital.
• (adv.) In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words.
• (adv.) In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent.

Synonyms

dorsum , rear , rear , spinal column , vertebral column , spine , backbone , rachis , binding , book binding , cover , backrest , endorse , indorse , plump for , plunk for , support , second , endorse , indorse , bet on , gage , stake , game , punt , back up , hind , hinder , backward , backwards , rearward , rearwards , backward

Antonyms

front , front , advance , front , veer , front , forward , ahead , forward

Homophones

backe , bak , bakke

Rhymes

aback , ack , adak , akc , almanac , amnesiac , anorak , attack , backe , backpack , backtrack , bak , bakke , beaulac , biofeedback , black , blackjack , boback , brac , brack , brakke , braque , brumback , bushwhack , buyback , cac , cadillac , cardiac , chirac , clack , claque , cognac , comeback , counterattack , crack , crackerjack , cutback , dac , dack , dak , drawback , dulac , fac , fallback , feedback , flack , flak , flapjack , flashback , fullback , greenback , gunnysack , hack , hacke , hackensack , hackmatack , halfback , haq , hardback , hatchback , haystack , hibaaq , hijack , hoback , horseback , humpback , hunchback , insomniac , jac , jack , jacques , kickback , knack , knapsack , knick-knack , knickknack , kodak , kodiak , krack , kracke , kwak , lac , lack , lak , leaseback , leatherback , lilac , lumberjack , mac , mack , macke , maniac , megalomaniac , merrimack , nacke , netback , nyack , nymphomaniac , outback , pac , pack , pak , paperback , paque , paranoiac , payback , piggyback , plack , placke , plaque , playback , pontiac , post-attack , prickleback , prozac , ptak , pullback , quack , quarterback , racetrack , rack , ransack , razorback , repack , roback , rollback , ryback , sac , sack , sacque , sak , schack , schlack , schnack , schrack , setback , shack , shaq , sidetrack , skipjack , slack , slayback , smack , smokestack , snack , soundtrack , spack , spak , stac , stack , strack , stracke , tac , tack , tarmac , thack , throwback , thwack , trac , track , trak , unpack , vanvlack , wack , wacke , whack , wingback , wisecrack , wrack , yack , yak , zach , zack , zodiac