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17 dictionary results for: back
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
back1       [bak] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.the rear part of the human body, extending from the neck to the lower end of the spine.
2.the part of the body of animals corresponding to the human back.
3.the rear portion of any part of the body: the back of the head.
4.the whole body, with reference to clothing: the clothes on his back.
5.ability for labor; effort; endurance: He put his back into the task.
6.the part opposite to or farthest from the front; the rear part: the back of a hall.
7.the part that forms the rear of any object or structure: the back of a chair.
8.the part that covers the back: the back of a jacket.
9.the spine or backbone: The fall broke his back.
10.any rear part of an object serving to support, protect, etc.: the back of a binder.
11.Nautical, Aeronautics. the forward side of a propeller blade (opposed to face).
12.Aeronautics. the top part or upper surface of an aircraft, esp. of its fuselage.
13.Bookbinding. the edge of a book formed where its sections are bound together.
14.the backs, grounds along the River Cam in back of certain colleges at Cambridge University in England: noted for their great beauty.
15.Architecture. extrados.
16.Carpentry.
a.the upper side of a joist, rafter, handrail, etc.
b.the area of interior wall between a window stool and the floor.
17.Mining. the roof of a stope or drift.
18.Sports.
a.a player whose regular position is behind that of players who make initial contact with the opposing team, as behind the forward line in football or nearest the player's own goal in polo.
b.the position occupied by this player.
–verb (used with object)
19.to support, as with authority, influence, help, or money (often fol. by up): to back a candidate; to back up a theory with facts.
20.to bet on: to back a horse in the race.
21.to cause to move backward (often fol. by up): to back a car.
22.to furnish with a back: to back a book.
23.to lie at the back of; form a back or background for: a beach backed by hills.
24.to provide with an accompaniment: a singer backed by piano and bass.
25.to get upon the back of; mount.
26.to write or print on the back of; endorse; countersign.
27.Carpentry. to attach strips of wood to the upper edge of (a joist or rafter) to bring it to a desired level.
28.Nautical.
a.to alter the position of (a sail) so that the wind will strike the forward face.
b.to brace (yards) in backing a sail.
c.to reinforce the hold of (an anchor) by means of a smaller one attached to it and dropped farther away.
–verb (used without object)
29.to go or move backward (often fol. by up).
30.Nautical. (of wind) to change direction counterclockwise (opposed to veer).
–adjective
31.situated at or in the rear: at the back door; back fence.
32.far away or removed from the front or main area, position, or rank; remote: back settlements.
33.belonging to the past: back files; back issues.
34.in arrears; overdue: back pay.
35.coming or going back; moving backward: back current.
36.Navigation. reciprocal (def. 7).
37.Phonetics. (of a speech sound) produced with the tongue articulating in the back part of the mouth, as in either of the sounds of go.
—Verb phrases
38.back away, to retreat; withdraw: They gradually began to back away from their earlier opinion.
39.back down, to abandon an argument, opinion, or claim; withdraw; retreat: He backed down as soon as a member of the audience challenged his assertion.
40.back off,
a.to back down: Now that the time for action had arrived, it was too late to back off.
b.Textiles. to reverse (the spindle) in mule spinning prior to winding on the newly spun length of yarn.
41.back out or out of, to fail to keep an engagement or promise; withdraw from; abandon: Two entrants have backed out of competing in the marathon. You can't back out now.
42.back up,
a.to bring (a stream of traffic) to a standstill: A stalled car backed up traffic for miles.
b.Printing. to print a sheet again on its other side.
c.Printing. to fill in (the thin copper shell of an electrotype) with metal in order to strengthen it.
d.to move backward: Back up into the garage.
e.to reinforce: We backed up the cardboard with slats so it wouldn't fall down.
f.to support or confirm: He backed up my story and they let us go.
g.Computers. to duplicate (a file or a program) as a precaution against failure.
43.back up for, Australian Informal. to return for more of, as another helping of food.
—Idioms
44.back and fill,
a.Nautical. to trim the sails of a boat so that the wind strikes them first on the forward and then on the after side.
b.to change one's opinion or position; vacillate.
45.back and forth, South Midland U.S.
a.to go back and forth, as in running errands or visiting: He spent the day backing and forthing to the post office.
b.to work in an aimless or ineffective way; expend effort with little result.
46.back water,
a.Nautical. to reverse the direction of a vessel.
b.to retreat from a position; withdraw an opinion: I predict that the council will back water on the tax issue.
47.be flat on one's back,
a.to be helpless or beaten: He's flat on his back after a long succession of failures.
b.to be confined to one's bed because of illness.
48.behind one's back, in one's absence; without one's knowledge; treacherously; secretly: I'd rather talk to him about it directly than discuss it behind his back.
49.break someone's back, to cause a person to fail, esp. to cause to become bankrupt: His family's extravagance is breaking his back.
50.break the back of,
a.to complete the principal or hardest part of (a project, one's work, etc.): He finally broke the back of the problem.
b.to overcome; defeat: They broke the back of our union.
51.get off one's back, Informal. to cease to find fault with or to disturb someone: The fight started when they wouldn't get off my back.
52.get one's back up, Informal. to become annoyed; take offense: She gets her back up whenever someone mentions her family's influence.
53.have one's back to the wall, to be in a difficult or hopeless situation.
54.in back of, behind: He hid in back of the billboard. What could be in back of his strange behavior? Also, back of.
55.on one's back, Informal. finding fault with or disturbing someone: The boss is always on my back about promptness.
56.pat on the back. pat1 (defs. 9, 8).
57.stab in the back. stab (def. 13).
58.turn one's back on,
a.to forsake or neglect: He was unable to turn his back on any suffering creature.
b.to leave behind, as in anger.
[Origin: bef. 1000; ME bak, OE bæc back of the body; c. OFris bek, OS, ON bak; perh. < IE *bhogo- bending; cf. bacon]

—Related forms
backless, adjective

—Synonyms 19. sustain, abet, favor, assist; countenance, endorse. 29. retire, retreat, withdraw. 31. Back, hind, posterior, rear refer to something situated behind something else. Back means the opposite of front: back window. Hind, and the more formal word posterior, suggest the rearmost of two or more often similar objects: hind legs; posterior lobe. Rear is used of buildings, conveyances, etc., and in military language it is the opposite of fore: rear end of a truck; rear echelon.
—Antonyms 1, 31. front.
—Usage note 51. Although some object to their use, the phrases in back of and the shorter—and much older—back of with the meaning “behind” are fully established as standard in American English: The car was parked (in) back of the house. Both phrases occur in all types of speech and writing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
back2       [bak] Pronunciation Key
–adverb
1.at, to, or toward the rear; backward: to step back.
2.in or toward the past: to look back on one's youth; They met in Chicago back in 1976.
3.at or toward the original starting point, place, or condition: to go back to the old neighborhood.
4.in direct payment or return: to pay back a loan; to answer back.
5.in a state of restraint or retention: to hold back the tears; to hold back salary.
6.in a reclining position: to lean back; to lie back.
—Verb phrase
7.go back on,
a.to be treacherous or faithless to; betray: to go back on friends.
b.to fail to keep; renege on: to go back on promises.
—Idioms
8.back and forth, from side to side; to and fro; from one to the other: The pendulum of the grandfather clock swung back and forth.
9.back yonder, Chiefly South Midland U.S. formerly; many years ago: Back yonder, when I was a boy, things were different.
[Origin: 1480–90; aph. var. of aback]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
back3       [bak] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.a large tub, vat, or cistern used by dyers, brewers, distillers, etc., to hold liquids.
2.a broad-beamed ferryboat hauled across a body of water by a rope or chain.
[Origin: 1685–95; < D bak tub, trough < LL bacca water container; cf. F bac ferryboat, punt. See basin.]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
Back River
–noun
a river in central Nunavut, Canada, flowing NE to an inlet of the Arctic Ocean. 600 mi. (965 km) long.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
back 1       (bāk)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
    1. The posterior portion of the trunk of the human body between the neck and the pelvis; the dorsum.
    2. The analogous dorsal region in other animals.
    3. The part of a book where the pages are stitched or glued together into the binding.
    4. The binding itself.
    5. A player who takes a position behind the front line of other players in certain games, such as football and soccer.
    6. This playing position.
  2. The backbone or spine.
  3. The part or area farthest from the front.
  4. The part opposite to or behind that adapted for view or use: the back of the hand; wrote on the back of the photograph.
  5. The reverse side, as of a coin.
  6. A part that supports or strengthens from the rear: the back of a couch.
    1. The part of a book where the pages are stitched or glued together into the binding.
    2. The binding itself.
    3. A player who takes a position behind the front line of other players in certain games, such as football and soccer.
    4. This playing position.
  8. Sports
    1. A player who takes a position behind the front line of other players in certain games, such as football and soccer.
    2. This playing position.

v.   backed, back·ing, backs

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

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

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

adv.  
  1. At, to, or toward the rear or back; backward.
  2. In, to, or toward a former location: went back for the class reunion.
  3. In, to, or toward a former condition.
  4. In, to, or toward a past time.
  5. In reserve or concealment.
  6. In check or under restraint: Barriers held the crowd back.
  7. In reply or return.
  8. To withdraw from something before completion.
  9. To fail to keep a commitment or promise.
  10. To cause to accumulate or undergo accumulation: The accident backed the traffic up for blocks. Traffic backed up in the tunnel.
  11. Computer Science To make a backup of (a program or file).

Phrasal Verb(s):
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
  1. To withdraw from something before completion.
  2. To fail to keep a commitment or promise.
back up
  1. To cause to accumulate or undergo accumulation: The accident backed the traffic up for blocks. Traffic backed up in the tunnel.
  2. Computer Science To make a backup of (a program or file).

Idiom(s):
back and fill
  1. Nautical To maneuver a vessel in a narrow channel by adjusting the sails so as to let the wind in and out of them in alteration.
  2. To vacillate in one's actions or decisions.

Idiom(s):
back to back
Consecutively and without interruption: presented three speeches back to back.

Idiom(s):
behind (one's) back
In one's absence or without one's knowledge.

Idiom(s):
have (one's) back up
To be angry or irritated.

Idiom(s):
off (someone's) back
No longer nagging or urging someone to do something.

Idiom(s):
on (someone's) back
Persistently nagging or urging someone to do something.

[Middle English bak, from Old English bæc.]

back'less adj.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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back 2       (bāk)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   A shallow vat or tub used chiefly by brewers.


[Dutch bak, from French bac, from Old French, boat, from Vulgar Latin *baccus, vessel, probably of Celtic origin.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
back 
O.E. bæc "back, backwards, behind," from P.Gmc. *bakam (cf. O.S., M.Du. bak, O.Fris. bek), which mostly has been ousted in other modern Gmc. languages by words akin to Mod.E. ridge. Verb "to move (something) back" is from 1486; meaning "to support" (as by a bet) is first attested 1548. Backbiting is first recorded c.1175; backslide in the religious sense is from 1581; backwoods is from 1709. Back-date first recorded 1946. Backside "rump" is first recorded 1500. Back door "devious, shady, illegal" is from 1643. The verb back off "retreat" is attested from 1930s. Back down in fig. sense of "withdraw a charge" is first attested 1859, Amer.Eng., from notion of descending a ladder, etc. Back-firing "premature ignition in an internal-combustion engine" is first recorded 1897. Back-stabber in the fig. sense is from 1906. Back-seat driver first attested 1926. Back-track "retrace one's steps" is from 1904. Back-to-nature (adj.) is first attested 1915. Backpack is 1914 as a noun, 1916 as a verb. The back of (one's) hand has been used to imply contempt and rejection since at least 1300; to know something like the back of one's hand, implying familiarity, is first attested 1943. Back bench in the House of Commons sense is from 1874. Back-hand as a tennis stroke dates from 1657. Back-talk "impertinent retort" is first recorded 1858, originally often used in literary attempts at low Irish idiom. To be on the back burner in the figurative sense is from 1960. Back-formation coined by Eng. lexicographer James Murray (1837-1915).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
back

adjective
1. related to or located at the back; "the back yard"; "the back entrance" [ant: front] 
2. located at or near the back of an animal; "back (or hind) legs"; "the hinder part of a carcass" 
3. of an earlier date; "back issues of the magazine" 

adverb
1. in or to or toward a former location; "she went back to her parents' house" 
2. at or to or toward the back or rear; "he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car" [ant: forrad] 
3. in or to or toward an original condition; "he went back to sleep" 
4. in or to or toward a past time; "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward" [ant: ahead] 
5. in reply; "he wrote back three days later" 
6. in repayment or retaliation; "we paid back everything we had borrowed"; "he hit me and I hit him back"; "I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher" 

noun
1. the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine; "his back was nicely tanned" 
2. the side that goes last or is not normally seen; "he wrote the date on the back of the photograph" [syn: rear] [ant: front] 
3. the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer; "he stood at the back of the stage"; "it was hidden in the rear of the store" [ant: front] 
4. (football) a person who plays in the backfield 
5. the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord; "the fall broke his back" [syn: spinal column] 
6. the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book; "the book had a leather binding" [syn: binding] 
7. the part of a garment that covers the back of your body; "they pinned a 'kick me' sign on his back" 
8. a support that you can lean against while sitting; "the back of the dental chair was adjustable" 
9. (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage 

verb
1. be behind; approve of; "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960" 
2. travel backward; "back into the driveway"; "The car backed up and hit the tree" 
3. give support or one's approval to; "I'll second that motion"; "I can't back this plan"; "endorse a new project" [syn: second] 
4. cause to travel backward; "back the car into the parking spot" [ant: advance] 
5. support financial backing for; "back this enterprise" 
6. be in back of; "My garage backs their yard" [ant: face] 
7. place a bet on; "Which horse are you backing?"; "I'm betting on the new horse" [syn: bet on] 
8. shift to a counterclockwise direction; "the wind backed" [ant: veer] 
9. establish as valid or genuine; "Can you back up your claims?" 
10. strengthen by providing with a back or backing 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

back

In addition to the idioms beginning with back, also see a while back; behind someone's back; break one's back; break the back of; call back; choke back; come back; cut back; double back; draw back; drop back; eyes in the back of one's head; fall back; fall back on; fall over (backward); flat on one's back; from way back; get back; get one's back up; give the shirt off one's back; go back on one's word; hang back; hark(en) back; hold back; in one's own backyard; kick back; knock back; know like a book (the back of one's hand); left-handed (back-handed) compliment; like water off a duck's back; look back; monkey on one's back; off someone's back; pat on the back; pay back in someone's own coin; pin someone's ears back; play back; plow back; pull back; put one's back in it; put one's back up; roll back; scratch someone's back; see the back of; set back; set back on one's heels; set one back; set the clock back; sit back; slap on the back; snap back; stab in the back; take aback; take a back seat; take back; talk back; think back; throw back; turn back; turn one's back on; when someone's back is turned; with one arm tied behind one's back; you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

back (bāk)
n.

  1. The posterior portion of the trunk of the human body between the neck and the pelvis; the dorsum.
  2. The backbone or spine.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: back
Function: adjective
1 : being overdue or in arrears <back rent>
2 : being retroactive esp. as compensation back pay>

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Back

Back\, n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bak tray, bowl.]

1. 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.

Hop back, Jack back, the cistern which receives the infusion of malt and hops from the copper.

Wash back, a vat in which distillers ferment the wort to form wash.

Water back, a cistern to hold a supply of water; esp. a small cistern at the back of a stove, or a group of pipes set in the fire box of a stove or furnace, through which water circulates and is heated.

2. A ferryboat. See Bac, 1.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Back

Back\, n. [As b[ae]c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. b?g? flight. Cf. Bacon.]

1. 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.

2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.

[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave Into the clouds. --Milton.

3. 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.

Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss. --Donne.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.

7. A support or resource in reserve.

This project Should have a back or second, that might hold, If this should blast in proof. --Shak.

8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.

9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.

10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing.

A bak to walken inne by daylight. --Chaucer.

Behind one's back, when one is absent; without one's knowledge; as, to ridicule a person behind his back.

Full back, Half back, Quarter back (Football), players stationed behind those in the front line.

To be or lie on one's back, to be helpless.

To put, or get, one's back up, to assume an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked.). [Colloq.]

To see the back of, to get rid of.

To turn the back, to go away; to flee.

To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Back

Back\, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.

2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.

3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action.

Back charges, charges brought forward after an account has been made up.

Back filling (Arch.), the mass of materials used in filling up the space between two walls, or between the inner and outer faces of a wall, or upon the haunches of an arch or vault.

Back pressure. (Steam Engine) See under Pressure.

Back rest, a guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe, and placed in contact with the work, to steady it in turning.

Back slang, a kind of slang in which every word is written or pronounced backwards; as, nam for man.

Back stairs, stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs. Also used adjectively. See Back stairs, Backstairs, and Backstair, in the Vocabulary.

Back step (Mil.), the retrograde movement of a man or body of men, without changing front.

Back stream, a current running against the main current of a stream; an eddy.

To take the back track, to retrace one's steps; to retreat. [Colloq.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Back

Back\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Backed; p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.]

1. To get upon the back of; to mount.

I will back him [a horse] straight. --Shak.

2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]

Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, Appeared to me. --Shak.

3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.

4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.

5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.

A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. --Shak.

The chalk cliffs which back the beach. --Huxley.

6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.

7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend. "Parliament would be backed by the people." --Macaulay.

Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards and punishments. --South.

The mate backed the captain manfully. --Blackw. Mag.

8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.

To back an anchor (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened to the crown of the large one.

To back the field, in horse racing, to bet against a particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other horses, collectively designated "the field", will win.

To back the oars, to row backward with the oars.

To back a rope, to put on a preventer.

To back the sails, to arrange them so as to cause the ship to move astern.

To back up, to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's friends.

To back a warrant (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in the county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or indorse a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender.

To back water (Naut.), to reverse the action of the oars, paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship backward.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Back

Back\, v. i. 1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.

2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.

3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog. [Eng.]

To back and fill, to manage the sails of a ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind. Hence: (Fig.) To take opposite positions alternately; to assert and deny. [Colloq.]

To back out, To back down, to retreat or withdraw from a promise, engagement, or contest; to recede. [Colloq.]

Cleon at first . . . was willing to go; but, finding that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to back out. --Jowett (Thucyd. )

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Back

Back\, adv. [Shortened from aback.]

1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.

2. 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.

3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.

4. (Of time) In times past; ago. "Sixty or seventy years back." --Gladstone.

5. Away from contact; by reverse movement.

The angel of the Lord . . . came, and rolled back the stone from the door. --Matt. xxvii. 2.

6. 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.

7. In a state of restraint or hindrance.

The Lord hath kept thee back from honor. --Numb. xxiv. 11.

8. In return, repayment, or requital.

What have I to give you back! --Shak.

9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words.

10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.]

Back and forth, backwards and forwards; to and fro.

To go back on, to turn back from; to abandon; to betray; as, to go back on a friend; to go back on one's professions. [Colloq.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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