Dictionary
backbone
noun back·bone \-ˈbōn, -ˌbōn\
: the row of connected bones that go down the middle of the back and protect the spinal cord
: the most important or strongest part of something
: strength and courage
Full Definition of BACKBONE
1
2
: something that resembles a backbone: as a : a chief mountain ridge, range, or system b : the foundation or most substantial or sturdiest part of something c : the longest chain of atoms or groups of atoms in a usually long molecule (as a polymer or protein) d : the primary high-speed hardware and transmission lines of a telecommunications network (as the Internet)
3
: firm and resolute character
See backbone defined for English-language learners
See backbone defined for kids
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First Known Use of BACKBONE
14th century
Related to BACKBONE
- Synonyms
- spine, chine, spinal column, vertebral column
- Antonyms
- spinelessness
Rhymes with BACKBONE
agon, aitchbone, alone, atone, Bastogne, bemoan, Big Stone, birthstone, Blackstone, bloodstone, bluestone, bondstone, Boulogne, breastbone, bridge loan, brimstone, brownstone, call loan, calzone, Capone, capstone, cell phone, cheekbone, chinbone, cogon, cologne, Cologne, colon, colón, Colón, condone, copestone, corn pone, curbstone, cyclone, daimon, dapsone, debone, depone, dethrone, dial tone, disown, Dordogne, downzone, dripstone, drop zone, drystone, earphone, earth tone, end zone, enthrone, estrone, fieldstone, firestone, Firestone, flagstone, flowstone, flyblown, footstone, freestone, free zone, full-blown, gallstone, gemstone, Gijón, goldstone, gravestone, greenstone, grindstone, hailstone, halftone, handblown, hard stone, headphone, headstone, hearthstone, high-flown, hip bone, homegrown, hormone, hornstone, impone, ingrown, inkstone, in stone, intone, jawbone, jewel tone, keystone, León, leone, life zone, limestone, lodestone, long bone, Maidstone, milestone, millstone, moonstone, mudstone, nose cone, oilstone, orgone, ozone, pay phone, peptone, pinbone, pinecone, piñon, pipestone, postpone, potstone, propone, redbone, red zone, rhinestone, sandstone, shade-grown, shinbone, siltstone, snow cone, soapstone, splint bone, strike zone, T-bone, tailbone, thighbone, time zone, toadstone, tombstone, touchstone, touch-tone, tritone, trombone, turnstone, twelve-tone, two-tone, Tyrone, unknown, unthrone, war zone, well-known, whalebone, wheel-thrown, whetstone, windblown, wishbone, Yangon
BACKBONE Defined for Kids
backbone
noun back·bone \ˈbak-ˈbōn\
Definition of BACKBONE for Kids
1
: the column of bones in the back enclosing and protecting the spinal cord : spinal column
2
: the strongest part of something <He is the backbone of the family.>
3
: strength of character
Medical Dictionary
backbone
noun back·bone \-ˈbōn, -ˌbōn\
Medical Definition of BACKBONE
1
2
: the longest chain of atoms or groups of atoms in a usually long molecule (as a polymer or protein)
Learn More About BACKBONE
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