Definitions for the word "back" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. n.
A ferryboat. See Bac, 1.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. n.
An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. n.
The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. n.
A support or resource in reserve.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. n.
The keel and keelson of a ship.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. n.
The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. n.
A garment for the back; hence, clothing.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. a.
Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. a.
Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. a.
Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. v. i.
To get upon the back of; to mount.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
17. v. i.
To place or seat upon the back.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
18. v. i.
To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
19. v. i.
To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
20. v. i.
To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
21. v. i.
To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
22. v. i.
To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
23. v. i.
To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
24. v. i.
To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
25. v. i.
To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
26. v. i.
To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
27. adv.
In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
28. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
29. adv.
To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
30. adv.
(Of time) In times past; ago.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
31. adv.
Away from contact; by reverse movement.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
32. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
33. adv.
In a state of restraint or hindrance.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
34. adv.
In return, repayment, or requital.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
35. adv.
In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
36. adv.
In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
37. n.
1 a rear surface of the human body from shoulder to hip. B upper surface of an animal''s body. C spine (broke his back). D keel of a ship. 2 backlike surface (back of the head, chair, shirt). 3 reverse or more distant part (back of the room; sat in the back; write it on the back). 4 defensive player in football etc. adv. 1 to the rear (go back a bit; looked back). 2 in or into a previous state, place, or time (came back; put it back; back in june). 3 at a distance (stand back). 4 in return (pay back). 5 in check (hold him back). v. 1 a give moral or financial support to. B bet on (a horse etc.). 2 (often foll. By up) move backwards. 3 a put or serve as a back, background, or support to. B mus. Accompany. 4 lie at the back of (beach backed by cliffs). 5 (of the wind) move anticlockwise. adj. 1 situated to the rear; remote, subsidiary (back teeth). 2 past; not current (back pay; back issue). 3 reversed (back flow). back and forth to and fro. Back down withdraw from confrontation. The back of beyond very remote place. Back off 1 draw back, retreat. 2 = back down. Back on to have its back adjoining (backs on to a field). Back out (often foll. By of) withdraw from a commitment. Back-pedal reverse one''s action or opinion. Back to back with backs adjacent and facing each other (stood back to back). Back up 1 give (esp. Moral) support to. 2 computing make a backup of (data, a disk, etc.). Get (or put) a person''s back up annoy a person. Get off a person''s back stop troubling a person. Turn one''s back on abandon; ignore. backer n. (in sense 1 of v.). Backless adj. [old english]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
38. slang
to support by means of money, on the turf or otherwise.—_See_
LAY.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
39. slang
“to get one’s BACK UP,” to annoy or enrage. Probably from the
action of a cat when preparing to give battle to an enemy.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
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