Oxford Essential Dictionary
noun
1 the part of a person or an animal that is between the neck and the bottom:
He lay on his back and looked up at the sky.
She was standing with her back to me so I couldn't see her face.
2 the part of something that is behind or furthest from the front:
The answers are at the back of the book.
Write your address on the back of the cheque.
We sat in the back of the car.
back to front with the back part where the front should be:
You've got your sweater on back to front.
behind somebody's back when somebody is not there, so that they do not know about it:
Don't talk about Kate behind her back.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
II. back2 S1 W1 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: bæc]
1. PART OF YOUR BODY
a) the part of the body between the neck and legs, on the opposite side to the stomach and chest:
The cat arched its back and hissed.
My feet were sore and my back was aching.
Keep your head up and your back straight.
To avoid back problems, always bend your knees when you lift heavy objects.
He lay on his back and gazed at the ceiling.
Johnny was lying flat on his back in the middle of the floor.
Anna stood with her back to the window.
on sb’s back (=carried on someone’s back)
The girl appeared again, now with a little baby on her back.
b) the bones between your neck and the top of your legs SYN spine:
He broke his back in a motorbike accident.
NOT AT FRONT [usually singular] the part of something that is furthest from the front OPP front:
a T-shirt with a picture of a snake on the back
back of
He kissed her on the back of her head.
Her window faced the backs of the houses.
in the back (of something) (=used especially about the back of a vehicle)
Two men were sitting in the back of the car.
at the back (of something)
a small shop with an office at the back
in back (of something) American English (=in or at the back of something)
Kids should always wear seat belts, even in back.
out back American English (=behind a house or other building)
Tom’s working on the car out back.
round/out the back British English (=behind a house or building)
Have you looked round the back?
3. LESS IMPORTANT SIDE [usually singular] the less important side or surface of something such as a piece of paper or card OPP front:
Paul scribbled his address on the back of an envelope.
The credits are listed on the back of the album.
4. PART OF SEAT the part of a seat that you lean against when you are sitting
back of
He rested his arm on the back of the sofa.
5. BOOK/NEWSPAPER [usually singular] the last pages of a book or newspaper OPP front
at the back (of)
The sports pages are usually at the back.
in the back (of)
The answers are in the back of the book.
6. at/in the back of your mind a thought that is at the back of your mind is one you try to ignore because you do not want it to be true:
At the back of her mind was the thought that he might be with someone else.
put/push something to the back of your mind
He tried to push these uncomfortable thoughts to the back of his mind.
7. back to back
a) with the backs towards each other:
Stand back to back and we’ll see who’s tallest.
b) happening immediately one after the other:
a couple of back-to-back wins for the team ⇨ ↑back-to-back1
8. back to front British English
a) in an incorrect position so that what should be at the back is at the front:
You’ve got your sweater on back to front.
b) doing something the wrong way round and starting with the part that should be at the end:
He got the commands back to front and the program didn’t work.
9. behind sb’s back if you do something behind someone’s back, you do it without them knowing:
I don’t like the idea of the two of them talking about me behind my back.
I should have realized that he’d go behind my back (=do something without telling me).
10. when/while sb’s back is turned if something happens when your back is turned, it happens when you are not able to see or know what someone is doing:
What are your kids up to when your back is turned?
11. get/put sb’s back up British English informal to annoy someone:
Simone was the kind of person who was always putting people’s backs up.
12. get (somebody) off sb’s back spoken to stop annoying someone with a lot of questions, criticisms etc, or to make someone stop annoying you in this way:
Maybe the only way to get him off my back is to tell him the truth.
Do me a favour and get off my back!
13. be on sb’s back spoken to be trying to make someone do something they do not want to do:
Why are you and Dad always on my back?
14. on the back of something as a result of something that already exists or something you have already done:
The company should be able to generate business on the back of existing contracts.
15. on the backs of somebody using the work of a particular group to achieve something that they will not get any advantage from:
Economic prosperity was won on the backs of the urban poor.
16. SPORTS a defending player in a sports team SYN defender
17. the back of beyond informal a place that is a long way from other places and is difficult to get to:
It’s a nice little cottage but it really is in the back of beyond.
18. be (flat) on your back
a) to be lying on your back – used to emphasize that someone seems unlikely to get up soon:
He was drunk and flat on his back on the street.
b) to be so ill that you cannot get out of bed:
Their best player was flat on his back in hospital.
c) if a business, country, ↑economy etc is on its back, it is not successful:
The UK market was flat on its back.
19. put your back into it informal to work extremely hard at something:
If we really put our backs into it, we could finish today.
20. be glad/delighted/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something to be happy that someone is leaving or because you no longer have to deal with something:
No, I’m not too upset that he left – in fact, I was glad to see the back of him.
I can’t wait to see the back of this project, I can tell you (=I will be happy when it ends).
21. have your back to/against the wall informal to be in a difficult situation with no choice about what to do
22. at your back
a) behind you:
They had the wind at their backs as they set off.
b) supporting you:
Caesar marched into Rome with an army at his back.
23. on your back informal not polite if someone achieves something on their back, they achieve it by having sex with someone
24. high-backed/straight-backed/low-backed etc with a high, straight, low etc back:
a high-backed chair
⇨ know something like the back of your hand at ↑know1(3), ⇨ turn your back on somebody/something at ↑turn1(7)
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
back
back [back backs backed backing] noun, adjective, adverb, verb [bæk] [bæk]
noun
PART OF BODY
1. the part of the human body that is on the opposite side to the chest, between the neck and the tops of the legs; the part of an animal's body that corresponds to this
• Do you sleep on your back or your front?
• He stood with his back to the door.
• They had their hands tied behind their backs.
• They set off with the wind at their backs (= behind them).
• I pulled (= injured the muscles in) my back playing squash.
• back pain
• a back massage
• A small boy rode on the elephant's back.
see also bareback, horseback
2. the row of bones in the middle of the back
Syn: backbone, Syn: spine
• She broke her back in a riding accident.
• He put his back out (= dislocated sth in his back) lifting the crates.
PART FURTHEST FROM FRONT
3. usually singular ~ (of sth) the part or area of sth that is furthest from the front
• We could only get seats at the back (= of the room).
• I found some old photos at the back of the drawer.
• He was shot in the back of the knee.
• The house has three bedrooms at the front and two at the back.
• (BrE) There's room for three people in the back.
• (NAmE) There's room for three people in back = of a car, etc..
• (BrE) If you'd like to come round the back (= to the area behind the house), I'll show you the garden.
see also hardback, paperback, short back and sides
OF PIECE OF PAPER
4. usually singular ~ (of sth) the part of a piece of paper, etc. that is on the opposite side to the one that has information or the most important information on it
• Write your name on the back of the cheque.
OF BOOK
5. usually singular ~ (of sth) the last few pages of a book, etc
• The television guide is at the back of the paper.
OF CHAIR
6. the part of a chair, etc. against which you lean your back
-BACKED
7. (in adjectives) used to describe furniture that has the type of back mentioned
• a high-backed sofa
IN SPORT
8. (in sports) a player whose main role is to defend their team's goal
compare forward n.
see also fullback, halfback
more at cover your back at cover v., have eyes in the back of your head at eye n., know sb/sth like the back of your hand at know v., a pat on the back at pat n., pat sb/yourself on the back at pat v., push sth to the back of your mind at push v., make a rod for your own back at rod, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours at scratch v., the shirt off sb's back at shirt, a stab in the back at stab n., stab sb in the back at stab v., the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back at straw, (like) water off a duck's back at water n.
Word Origin:
Old English bæc, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch and Old Norse bak. The adverb use dates from late Middle English and is a shortening of aback.
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Which Word?:
at the back / at the rear / behind
At the back and at the rear have a similar meaning, but at the rear is used more in formal or official language: ▪ What’s that at the back of the fridge? ◊ ▪ Smoking is only allowed at the rear of the aircraft. It is more usual to talk about the back door of a house but the rear exit of an aircraft or public building. If something is behind something else it is near to the back of it but not part of it. Compare: ▪ Our room was at the back of the hotel and ▪ There’s a lovely wood just behind our hotel.
Example Bank:
• Come around back and I'll show you the pool.
• He hunches his back when he walks.
• He leaned his back against the bar.
• He smiled and gave me a hearty slap on the back.
• He spent six months recovering from a broken back.
• He was carrying a small child on his back.
• He was standing with his back to the fire.
• He yawned and stretched his back as he got out of bed.
• He's in bed with a bad back.
• His back stiffened as he saw the photographers waiting.
• I had my pullover on back to front.
• I have a nagging pain in my lower back.
• I warned her she should watch her back.
• I was flat on my back for six weeks when I broke my leg.
• If you'd like to come round the back, I'll show you the garden.
• My money's all fallen down the back of the cushion.
• People say bad things about him behind his back, but never to his face.
• She decided to turn her back on Paris and return home.
• She decided to turn her back on Paris and return to her home town.
• She deserves a pat on the back for her efforts.
• She felt a sharp pain in the small her back.
• She was lying on her back on the sofa.
• The arts page is usually towards the back of the newspaper.
• The boss was certain that the staff would stop working as soon as his back was turned.
• The cat arched its back and hissed at the dog.
• The children sat back to back so they couldn't see each others' drawings.
• The cup had been pushed to the back of the cupboard.
• The man was refusing to go to the back of the queue.
• The sun beat down on their bare backs.
• There's room for three people in back.
• They blindfolded him and tied his hands behind his back.
• They tied his hands behind his back.
• Two passengers sat in the back of the car.
• We could only get seats at the back.
• Would you give me a back rub?
• a seat with good back support
Idioms: at the back of your mind ▪ back and forth ▪ back in the day ▪ back in the days ▪ back of beyond ▪ back of something ▪ back the wrong horse ▪ back to back ▪ back to front ▪ behind somebody's back ▪ break the back of something ▪ get off somebody's back ▪ get somebody's back up ▪ glad to see the back of somebody ▪ have somebody's back ▪ have your back to the wall ▪ off the back of a lorry ▪ on somebody's back ▪ on the back burner ▪ on the back of something ▪ on your back ▪ put your back into something ▪ turn your back ▪ turn your back on somebody
Derived: back away ▪ back down ▪ back off ▪ back onto something ▪ back out ▪ back somebody up ▪ back something up ▪ back up
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
back / bæk / noun [ C ] (FURTHEST PART)
A2 the inside or outside part of an object, vehicle, building, etc. that is furthest from the front:
He jotted her name down on the back of an envelope.
I found my tennis racket at the back of the cupboard.
We sat at the back of the bus.
Our seats were right at the back of the hall.
Ted was out/round the back ( US out back) (= in the area behind the house) ."
There is a beautiful garden at the back of ( US also in back of ) (= behind) the house.
If there's no reply at the front door, come round the back.
He put his jacket on the back of his chair (= the part of the chair that you put your back against when you sit on it) .
back to back close together and facing in opposite directions:
The office was full of computers, and we had to sit back to back in long rows.
happening one after another, without interruption:
Coming up after the break, three Rolling Stones classics back to back.
→ See also back-to-back
back to front C2 UK ( US backwards ) with the back part of something where the front should be:
You've put your jumper on back to front.
the back of your hand
the side of your hand that has hair growing on it
back / bæk / noun [ C ] (BODY PART)
A2 the part of your body that is opposite to the front, from your shoulders to your bottom:
I've got a bad back.
Sleeping on a bed that is too soft can be bad for your back.
He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
I turned my back (= turned round so that I could not see) while she dressed.
She put her back out (= caused a serious injury to her back) lifting a box.
See picture back
See picture body
back / bæk / noun [ C ] (SPORT)
(in some sports, such as football) one of the players in a team who try to stop players from the other team from scoring goals, rather than trying to score goals themselves
→ Compare forward noun
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
II. OPPOSITE OF FRONT; NOUN AND ADJECTIVE USES
/bæk/
(backs)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please look at category 17 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
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.
She turned her back to the audience...
Three of the victims were shot in the back...
N-COUNT: oft poss N
2.
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.
...a room at the back of the shop...
She raised her hands to the back of her neck...
Smooth the mixture with the back of a soup spoon...
≠ front
N-COUNT: usu sing, oft the N of n
3.
Back is used to refer to the side or part of something that is towards the rear or farthest from the front.
He opened the back door...
Ann could remember sitting in the back seat of their car.
...the path leading to the back garden.
≠ front
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
The back of a chair or sofa is the part that you lean against when you sit on it.
There was a neatly folded pink sweater on the back of the chair.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp
5.
The back of something such as a piece of paper or an envelope is the side which is less important.
Send your answers on the back of a postcard.
≠ front
N-COUNT: the N, usu sing
6.
The back of a book is the part nearest the end, where you can find the index or the notes, for example.
...the index at the back of the book...
≠ front
N-COUNT: the N, usu sing
7.
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. (BRIT SPOKEN)
He had chickens and things round the back...
N-SING: prep the N
8.
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. (AM)
Dan informed her that he would be out back on the patio cleaning his shoes...
Catlett got behind the wheel and I sat in back...
N-UNCOUNT: prep N, oft N of n
9.
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.
= defender
≠ forward
N-COUNT
10.
In American football, a back is a player who stands behind the front line, runs with the ball and attacks rather than defends.
N-COUNT
11.
If you say that something was done behind someone’s back, you disapprove of it because it was done without them knowing about it, in an unfair or dishonest way.
You eat her food, enjoy her hospitality and then criticize her behind her back.
PHRASE: PHR after v [disapproval]
12.
If you break the back of a task or problem, you do the most difficult part of what is necessary to complete the task or solve the problem.
It seems at least that we’ve broken the back of inflation in this country...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
13.
If two or more things are done back to back, one follows immediately after the other without any interruption.
...two half-hour shows, which will be screened back to back.
PHRASE
14.
If you are wearing something back to front, you are wearing it with the back of it at the front of your body. If you do something back to front, you do it the wrong way around, starting with the part that should come last. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use backward)
He wears his baseball cap back to front...
The picture was printed back to front.
= backwards
PHRASE: PHR after v
15.
If you say that one thing happens on the back of another thing, you mean that it happens after that other thing and in addition to it.
The cuts, if approved, come on the back of a difficult eight years that have seen three London fire stations closed.
PHRASE
16.
If someone is on the back foot, or if something puts them on the back foot, they feel threatened and act defensively.
From now on Labour will be on the back foot on the subject of welfare.
...another scheme designed purely to put the Scots Nationalists on the back foot.
PHRASE
17.
If someone or something puts your back up or gets your back up, they annoy you. (INFORMAL)
Some food labelling practices really get my back up.
= irritate
PHRASE: V inflects
18.
to take a back seat: see seat
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1back /ˈbæk/ noun, pl backs [count]
1 a : the rear part of the body : the part of the body that is opposite to the stomach and chest and that goes from the neck to the top of the legs
• She was carrying her little daughter on her back.
• He injured his back. = He suffered a back injury.
• She has a pain in the small of her back.
• an aching back
• I slapped/patted him on his/the back to congratulate him.
• He broke his back [=spine] in a fall.
• She stabbed/shot him in the back.
• He was handcuffed with his hands behind his back.
- see picture at human
b : the part of an animal that is like a person's back
• a bird with a spotted back
• riding on the back of a horse/donkey/camel
- see also horseback
2 a : the side or surface of something that is opposite the front or face : the rear side or surface of something - usually singular
• the back of the head
• the back of a mirror/spoon
• the back of the hand/leg/foot
• The book has fallen down the back of the couch.
b : the side or surface of something (such as a piece of paper) that is not usually used or seen first - usually singular
• She wrote something on the back of an envelope.
• He signed his name on the back of the check.
c : a place, position, or area that is at or near the rear of something - usually singular
• He put the letter in the back of the drawer.
• The kitchen is at/in the back of the house and the living room is at/in the front.
• Since our plane was leaving soon we were moved to the front of the line while others remained at the back.
• Please move to the back of the elevator to make room for others.
3 : the part of a chair or seat that supports a person's back
• a comfortable chair with a padded back
4 a : the section of a book, magazine, etc., that includes the last pages - usually singular
• There is an index in the back of the book.
b : the part of a book's cover that can be seen when the book is on a shelf
• The title of the book is shown on its back. [=spine]
5 sports : a player in some games (such as soccer and American football) who is positioned behind the front line of players
• a defensive back
- see also fullback, halfback, quarterback, running back
a pat on the back
- see 1pat
a stab in the back
- see 1stab
at/in the back of your mind : in the part of your mind where thoughts and memories are kept - used to describe ideas, memories, etc., that someone has but that are not usually thought about or not perfectly remembered
• The thought of retiring and moving out into the country has been in the back of her mind for many years, and now she's finally doing it.
• Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I'd met him before.
back is to/against the wall
✦When your back is to/against the wall or you have your back to/against the wall you are in a bad position in which you are forced to do something in order to avoid failure.
• With our backs to the wall we made a last desperate effort to finish the project on time.
• We knew that with so little time and money left to finish the project we had our backs to the wall.
back to back
1 : with backs opposite or against each other
• The soldiers stood back to back.
2 : happening one after the other
• She won the annual competition two times back to back. [=in a row]
• He's had two victories back to back.
• I've scheduled two appointments back to back.
- see also back-to-back
back to front of a piece of clothing : with the back where the front should be
• He accidentally put the sweater on back to front. [=front to back, backwards]
behind someone's back : without someone's knowledge : in secret
• You shouldn't gossip about people behind their back(s).
• If you have something to say, why not say it to my face instead of whispering it behind my back?!
• She went behind his back and spoke directly to his supervisor.
break the back of : to get control of (something you are trying to stop or defeat) : to greatly weaken or subdue (something)
• He says the government's new policies will break the back of inflation.
eyes in the back of your head
- see 1eye
get your back up : to become angry or annoyed and want to fight or argue
• He gets his back up and becomes defensive whenever someone questions his work.
- compare put someone's back up (below)
have someone's back
- see watch someone's back (below)
in back : in an area at the back of something
• There was only room for one passenger in front. The rest of us sat in back. [=in the back]
in back of chiefly US : directly behind (something or someone)
• There's a small yard in back of the house.
on the back of
1 : because of (something)
• Profits have increased on the back of [=on the strength of] improved international sales.
2 disapproving : by using the efforts of (other people)
• The company has achieved record profits on the back of cheap labor.
on/off your back
✦Someone who is always or frequently criticizing you or telling you what to do is on your back and won't get off your back.
• He says his wife is always on his back about doing chores around the house.
• Get off my back! I'm working as hard as I can!
• My boss is always criticizing me. I wish I knew some way to get him off my back.
on your back
✦If you are (flat) on your back you are lying with your back against the ground, on a bed, etc.
• The accident left him (lying) flat on his back (in bed) for two weeks. This phrase is sometimes used figuratively.
• The stock market has been flat on its back [=has been doing very poorly] in recent weeks.
out back US or chiefly Brit out the back or round the back : in the area behind something (such as a building)
• In my youth we didn't have a toilet in the house but there was one out back.
put someone's back up : to offend or annoy someone : to make someone angry or ready to argue
• I don't want to question his decision because that will just put his back up.
- compare get your back up (above)
put your back into : to work very hard at (something) : to put a lot of effort into (something)
• If you want to get that floor clean you'll have to put your back into it.
• You'll really have to put your back into this project if you want it to succeed.
scratch someone's back
- see 1scratch
see the back of
✦In British English, to be glad/happy (etc.) to see the back of someone is to be glad to see someone finally going away.
• He's done nothing but make trouble and I'll be glad to see the back of him! [=I'll be glad when he has gone]
stab (someone) in the back
- see 2stab
the shirt off your back
- see shirt
turn your back : to turn so that you are facing away from someone
• He turned his back and walked away from me.
- often + on
• He turned his back on me and walked away.
- often used figuratively
• His former supporters have turned their backs on him. [=have abandoned him]
watch someone's back or have someone's back : to protect someone who is doing something that is dangerous or risky
• The police officer's partner always watches his back.
• Don't worry, I've got your back.
watch your back
✦If people tell you to watch your back, they are telling you to be careful.
• I hear the boss is in a bad mood this morning, so you'd better watch your back.
- back·less /ˈbækləs/ adj
• a backless evening gown