backbone
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backbone
- /ˈbækˌbəʊn/ UK
- /ˈbækˌboʊn/ US
Rhymes with -ækbəʊn, -ækboʊn
Where it comes from
From Middle English bakbon, bakebon, bac-bon; equivalent to back + bone. Compare the semantically analogous English ridgebone.
noun backbones · back bone
- The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
- Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure. Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.
- Courage, fortitude, or strength. He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone.
Similar: spine, spinal column, vertebral column, backbone
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: spine, vertebral column, spinal column, guts, grit, sand, lynchpin, linchpin, back, gumption, anchor, mainstay, ridge, spina, skeleton, ankle
noun
Similar: spine, spinal column, vertebral column, backbone
Translations
Every language
noun series of vertebrae that encloses the spinal cord
| Español | espina dorsal, columna vertebral |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 背骨 sebone, 脊椎 sekitsui, 脊柱 sekichū |
| 中文 | 骨幹 /骨干 gǔgàn, 脊骨 jígǔ, 背骨 bèigǔ, 脊椎 jǐzhuī |
| Português | coluna vertebral, espinha, espinha dorsal |
| Français | colonne vertébrale, rachis, épine dorsale |
| Deutsch | Rückgrat, Wirbelsäule |
| Italiano | spina dorsale, colonna vertebrale, rachide |
| Ελληνικά | σπονδυλική στήλη spondylikí stíli, ραχοκοκαλιά rachokokaliá |
| Română | coloană vertebrală, șira spinării |
| Русский | позвоно́чник pozvonóčnik, хребе́т xrebét |
| Tiếng Việt | xương sống |
| العربية | عَمُود فَقْرِيّ ʕamūd faqriyy |
| עברית | עַמּוּד שִׁדְרָה 'amúd shidrá |
noun any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure
| Español | columna vertebral |
|---|---|
| Português | base, espinha dorsal |
| Français | épine dorsale |
| Deutsch | Rückgrat |
| Italiano | base, spina dorsale, struttura portante |
| Ελληνικά | ραχοκοκαλιά rachokokaliá |
| Română | coloană vertebrală |
| Русский | хребе́т xrebét, костя́к kostják, осно́ва osnóva |
| العربية | دِعَامَة diʕāma |
Talk about this word "backbone." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/backbone. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. backbone. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/backbone "backbone." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/backbone.Cite this
@misc{backbone_2026,
title = {backbone},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/backbone},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
