backbone
/ˈbækˌboʊn/noun2 syllables
Backbone means: a central cohesive source of support and stability.
Synonyms for backbone15
noun, as in a central cohesive source of support and stability
noun, as in the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
noun, as in the part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved
What does backbone mean?5
noun
a central cohesive source of support and stability“faith is his anchor”
fortitude and determination“he didn't have the guts to try it”
the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord“the fall broke his back”
the part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved“the title and author were printed on the spine of the book”
the part of a network that connects other networks together“the backbone is the part of a communication network that carries the heaviest traffic”
Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Backbone in a sentence
- Will he have the backbone to speak out against the bill?voxbubnya
- Carlos's herd was the backbone of his community.Amastan
- Your project is standing on a slippery backbone.LoverofEnglish
- Oil and gas are the backbone of Algeria's economy.Amastan
- This makes oil and gas the backbone of Algeria's economy.Amastan
- The backbone of the town’s economy, however, is a different kind of fossil: fossil fuel.Hybrid
- Agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing one-third of GDP.The_World_Factbook
- Invertebrates have no backbone or spinal column.Hybrid
Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.
Forms of backbone
as a noun
- plural
- backbones