backbone

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

Singular
backbone

Plural
backbones

backbone (plural backbones)

  1. set of bones which connected make up the spine and spinal column and run down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
  2. any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure
    Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.
  3. courage, fortitude, or strength
    He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Translations

set of bones which connected make up the spine and spinal column
any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure
courage, fortitude, or strength
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/backbone"