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spine

 [spahyn]   Origin

spine

   [spahyn]
noun
1.
the spinal or vertebral column; backbone.
2.
any backbonelike part.
3.
a stiff, pointed process or appendage on an animal, as a quill of a porcupine, or a sharp, bony ray in the fin of a fish.
4.
something, as a quality or trait, that constitutes a principal strength; resolution; stamina; backbone: a situation that would test a person's spine.
5.
a ridge, as of ground or rock.
EXPAND
6.
a sharp-pointed, hard or woody outgrowth on a plant; thorn.
7.
Bookbinding. the back of a book cover or binding, usually indicating the title and author.
COLLAPSE
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Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin spīna thorn, backbone

Related forms
spined, adjective
spine·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Spine is always a great word to know.
So is trochanter. Does it mean:
smooth surface area at the end of a bone, forming part of a joint
either of two knobs at the top of the femur attaching the muscles between the thigh and pelvis
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
spine (spaɪn)
 
—n
1.  the spinal column
2.  the sharply pointed tip or outgrowth of a leaf, stem, etc
3.  zoology a hard pointed process or structure, such as the ray of a fin, the quill of a porcupine, or the ridge on a bone
4.  the back of a book, record sleeve, etc
5.  a ridge, esp of a hill
6.  strength of endurance, will, etc
7.  anything resembling the spinal column in function or importance; main support or feature
 
[C14: from Old French espine spine, from Latin spīna thorn, backbone]
 
spined
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

spine
c.1400, "backbone," later "thornlike part" (1430), from O.Fr. espine (Fr. épine), from L. spina "backbone," originally "thorn, prickle," from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (cf. L. spica "ear of corn," O.N. spikr "nail;" see spike (n.1)). Meaning "the back of a book" is first
EXPAND
attested 1922. Spineless in fig. sense of "irresolute" is from 1885. Spine-chiller "mystery film" is attested from 1940; spine tingler in same sense is from 1942.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

spine (spīn)
n.

  1. See spinal column.

  2. Any of various short pointed projections, processes, or appendages of bone.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
spine   (spīn)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. See vertebral column.

  2. Any of various pointed projections, processes, or appendages of animals.

  3. A sharp-pointed projection on a plant, especially a hard, narrow modified leaf, as on a cactus, that is adapted to reduce water loss. Compare thorn. See more at leaf.


spinal adjective
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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