(of two similar events) following one immediately after the other; in unbroken sequence; consecutively: After losing all day, he picked winners back to back in the last two races.
–adjective Also, back-to-back.
2.
adjacent or contiguous but oppositely oriented; having the backs close together or adjoining: The seats in the day coach are back to back.
3.
Stud Poker. (of a pair) consisting of the hole card and the first upcard: He had aces back to back.
The posterior portion of the trunk of the human body between the neck and the pelvis; the dorsum.
The analogous dorsal region in other animals.
The part of a book where the pages are stitched or glued together into the binding.
The binding itself.
A player who takes a position behind the front line of other players in certain games, such as football and soccer.
This playing position.
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.
The part of a book where the pages are stitched or glued together into the binding.
The binding itself.
A player who takes a position behind the front line of other players in certain games, such as football and soccer.
This playing position.
Sports
A player who takes a position behind the front line of other players in certain games, such as football and soccer.
This playing position.
v.
backed, back·ing, backs
v.
tr.
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.
v.
intr.
To move backward: backed out of the garage.
To shift to a counterclockwise direction. Used of the wind.
adj.
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.
adv.
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.
To withdraw from something before completion.
To fail to keep a commitment or promise.
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).
Phrasal Verb(s): back awayTo withdraw from a position; retreat. back downTo withdraw from a position, opinion, or commitment. back offTo 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).
Idiom(s):
back and fill
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.
To vacillate in one's actions or decisions.
Idiom(s):
back to backConsecutively and without interruption: presented three speeches back to back.
Idiom(s):
behind (one's) backIn one's absence or without one's knowledge.
Idiom(s):
have (one's) back upTo be angry or irritated.
Idiom(s):
off (someone's) backNo longer nagging or urging someone to do something.
Idiom(s):
on (someone's) backPersistently nagging or urging someone to do something.
[Middle English bak, from Old English bæc.] back'less adj.
With backs close together or touching, as in In the first and second rows of the bus, the seats were back to back, an unusual arrangement. This term also can be applied to persons who stand facing in opposite directions and with their backs touching. [Mid-1800s]
Consecutively, one after another, as in I'm exhausted; I had three meetings back to back. [Mid-1900s]
(bāk) 
