ALL meanings of back
back
B b - adverb back If you move back, you move in the opposite direction to the one in which you are facing or in which you were moving before. 3
- adverb back If you go back somewhere, you return to where you were before. 3
- adverb back If someone or something is back in a particular state, they were in that state before and are now in it again. 3
- adverb back If you give or put something back, you return it to the person who had it or to the place where it was before you took it. If you get or take something back, you then have it again after not having it for a while. 3
- adverb back If you put a clock or watch back, you change the time shown on it so that it shows an earlier time, for example when the time changes to winter time or standard time. 3
- adverb back If you write or call back, you write to or telephone someone after they have written to or telephoned you. If you look back at someone, you look at them after they have started looking at you. 3
- adverb back You can say that you go or come back to a particular point in a conversation to show that you are mentioning or discussing it again. 3
- adverb back If something is or comes back, it is fashionable again after it has been unfashionable for some time. 3
- adverb back If someone or something is kept or situated back from a place, they are at a distance away from it. 3
- adverb back If something is held or tied back, it is held or tied so that it does not hang loosely over something. 3
- adverb back If you lie or sit back, you move your body backwards into a relaxed sloping or flat position, with your head and body resting on something. 3
- adverb back If you look or shout back at someone or something, you turn to look or shout at them when they are behind you. 3
- adverb back You use back in expressions like back in London or back at the house when you are giving an account, to show that you are going to start talking about what happened or was happening in the place you mention. 3
- adverb back If you talk about something that happened back in the past or several years back, you are emphasizing that it happened quite a long time ago. 3
- adverb back If you think back to something that happened in the past, you remember it or try to remember it. 3
- countable noun back A person's or animal's back is the part of their body between their head and their legs that is on the opposite side to their chest and stomach. 3
- countable noun back The back of something is the side or part of it that is towards the rear or farthest from the front. The back of something is normally not used or seen as much as the front. 3
- adjective back Back is used to refer to the side or part of something that is towards the rear or farthest from the front. 3
- countable noun back The back of a chair or sofa is the part that you lean against when you sit on it. 3
- countable noun back The back of something such as a piece of paper or an envelope is the side which is less important. 3
- countable noun back The back of a book is the part nearest the end, where you can find the index or the notes, for example. 3
- singular noun back You can use back in expressions such as round the back and out the back to refer generally to the area behind a house or other building. 3
- uncountable noun back You use back in expressions such as out back to refer to the area behind a house or other building. You also use in back to refer to the rear part of something, especially a car or building. 3
- countable noun back In team games such as football and hockey, a back is a player who is concerned mainly with preventing the other team from scoring goals, rather than scoring goals for their own team. 3
- countable noun back In American football, a back is a player who stands behind the front line, runs with the ball and attacks rather than defends. 3
- phrase back If two or more things are done back to back, one follows immediately after the other without any interruption. 3
- verb back If a building backs onto something, the back of it faces in the direction of that thing or touches the edge of that thing. 3
- verb back When you back a car or other vehicle somewhere or when it backs somewhere, it moves backwards. 3
- verb back If you back a person or a course of action, you support them, for example by voting for them or giving them money. 3
- verb back If you back a particular person, team, or horse in a competition, you predict that they will win, and usually you bet money that they will win. 3
- verb back If a singer is backed by a band or by other singers, they provide the musical background for the singer. 3
- noun back the posterior part of the human body, extending from the neck to the pelvis 3
- noun back the corresponding or upper part of an animal 3
- noun back the spinal column 3
- noun back the part or side of an object opposite the front 3
- noun back the part or side of anything less often seen or used 3
- noun back the part or side of anything that is furthest from the front or from a spectator 3
- noun back the convex part of something 3
- noun back something that supports, covers, or strengthens the rear of an object 3
- noun back a mainly defensive player behind a forward 3
- noun back the position of such a player 3
- noun back the part of a book to which the pages are glued or that joins the covers 3
- noun back the side of a passage or layer nearest the surface 3
- noun back the earth between that level and the next 3
- noun back the upper surface of a joist, rafter, slate, tile, etc, when in position 3
- verb back to move or cause to move backwards 3
- verb back to provide support, money, or encouragement for (a person, enterprise, etc) 3
- verb back to bet on the success of 3
- verb back to provide with a back, backing, or lining 3
- verb back to provide with a music accompaniment 3