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back

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Back means the rear of something.

(noun)

An example of a back is the tail of an animal.

Back is defined as to support or to move in a backward motion.

(verb)

An example of to back is to financially support a political candidate.
An example of to back is to back up which is to drive a car backwards into the driveway.

The definition of back is in the rear.

(adjective)

An example of back used as an adjective is a back yard which means a yard situated behind the house.

See back in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the part of the body opposite to the front; in humans and many other animals, the part to the rear or top reaching from the nape of the neck to the end of the spine
the backbone or spine
the part of a chair that supports one's back
the part of a garment or harness that fits on the back of a person or animal
physical strength: put some back into the work
the rear or hinder part of anything; part behind or opposite the front: the back of the room, the back of his leg
the part or side of anything that is less often used, seen, etc.: the back of the hand; the back of a carpet, textile, etc.; the back of a knife
1. the part of a book where the sections are sewed or glued together; part covered by the spine
2. the spine of a book
Mining the roof or overhead part of an underground passage
Sports a player positioned behind many of his or her teammates, as a running back in football or a halfback in soccer

Origin: ME bak < OE baec; akin to ON bak, OHG bahho

adjective

at the rear or back; behind
distant or remote: back country
of or for a time in the past: a back copy of a newspaper, back pay
in a backward direction; returning; reversed: a back step
Phonet. articulated with the tongue toward the back of the mouth: said of certain vowels, as (o̵̅o̅) in cool

adverb

at, to, or toward the rear; backward
to or toward a former position or location
into or toward a previous condition
to or toward an earlier time
so as to keep in reserve or concealment: to hold back information
in return or requital: to pay someone back

Origin: ME bac < abac < OE on bæc, backward

transitive verb

to cause to move backward, or to the rear: often with up
to be at the back of; stand behind
to support or help, as with money, endorsement, etc.
to make a wager in support of; bet on
to get on the back of; mount
to provide with a back or backing
to form the back of
to sign on the back; endorse
to provide security for (a currency, loan, etc.)

intransitive verb

1. to move or go backward: to back into a room
2. to move (into a desired position) through the faulty performance of an opponent: to back into a championship
to have the back in a certain place or direction: the house backs on a lake
Meteorol. to shift counterclockwise (in the Northern Hemisphere): said of the changing direction of a wind

noun

a vat or tub used in certain industrial processes

Origin: Du bak < LL bacca, water bowl

river in N Canada, flowing northeast into the Arctic Ocean: c. 600 mi (966 km)

Origin: after George Back (1796-1878), Arctic navigator

See back in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The posterior portion of the trunk of the human body between the neck and the pelvis; the dorsum.
b. The analogous dorsal region in other animals.
The backbone or spine.
The part or area farthest from the front.
The part opposite to or behind that adapted for view or use: the back of the hand; wrote on the back of the photograph.
The reverse side, as of a coin.
A part that supports or strengthens from the rear: the back of a couch.
a. The part of a book where the pages are stitched or glued together into the binding.
b. The binding itself.
Sports
a. A player who takes a position behind the front line of other players in certain games, such as football and soccer.
b. This playing position.

verb backed, back·ing, backs

verb, transitive

To cause to move backward or in a reverse direction: Back the car up and then make the turn.
To furnish or strengthen with a back or backing.
To provide with financial or moral support; support or endorse: Unions backed the pro-labor candidate. See Synonyms at support.
To provide with musical accompaniment. Often used with up.
To bet or wager on.
To adduce evidence in support of; substantiate: backed the argument with facts.
To form the back or background of: Snowcapped mountains back the village.

verb, intransitive

To move backward: backed out of the garage.
To shift to a counterclockwise direction. Used of the wind.

adjective

Located or placed in the rear: Deliveries should be made at the back entrance.
Distant from a center of activity; remote.
Of a past date; not current: a back issue of a periodical.
Being owed or due from an earlier time; in arrears: back pay.
Being in a backward direction.
Linguistics Pronounced with the back of the tongue, as oo in cool. Used of vowels.

adverb

At, to, or toward the rear or back; backward.
In, to, or toward a former location: went back for the class reunion.
In, to, or toward a former condition.
In, to, or toward a past time.
In reserve or concealment.
In check or under restraint: Barriers held the crowd back.
In reply or return.

Phrasal Verbs: back away To withdraw from a position; retreat. back down To withdraw from a position, opinion, or commitment. back off To retreat or draw away. back out To withdraw from something before completion. To fail to keep a commitment or promise. back up To cause to accumulate or undergo accumulation: The accident backed the traffic up for blocks. Traffic backed up in the tunnel. Computer Science To make a backup of (a program or file).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English bak

Origin: , from Old English bǽc

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