“back” – English explanatory dictionary

noun 1. the part of your body which is not in front ○ She went to sleep lying on her back. ○ He carried his son on his back. ○ Don’t lift that heavy box, you may hurt your back. □ do something behind someone’s back do something without telling the person who it affects □ to turn your back on someone to turn round so that your back is towards someone, as a sign that you are annoyed □ glad to see the back of someone pleased that someone has left □ to put someone’s back up to annoy someone □ have broken the back of the work have done most of the work 2. the opposite part to the front ○ He wrote his address on the back of the envelope. ○ She sat in the back of the bus and went to sleep. ○ The dining room is at the back of the house. □ to know a place like the back of your hand to know a place extremely well □ to put trousers on back to front to put trousers on the wrong way round 3. one of the players in a sports team who tries to prevent the other team from getting a point ○ The backs should stay back to defend the goal. ■ adj 1. on the opposite side to the front ○ He knocked at the back door of the house. ○ The back tyre of my bicycle is flat. 2. referring to the past ○ back pay ■ adv 1. towards the back ○ He stepped back from the edge of the platform. ○ She leant back in her armchair. ○ Can you please sit back, I can’t see the screen. 2. in the state that something was previously ○ Put the telephone back on the table. ○ She watched him drive away and then went back into the house. ○ She gave me back the money she had borrowed. ○ I’ll phone you when I am back in the office. 3. in the past ○ Back in the 1950s, life was much less complicated than it is today. ■ verb 1. to go backwards, to make something go backwards ○ He backed or backed his car down the drive. □ to back away from to go backwards from something frightening ○ The little girl backed away from the dog. 2. to support with money ○ She is backing her son’s restaurant. 3. to strongly support a particular person, opinion, etc. ○ We’re backing the Prime Minister to win the election. (NOTE: Back is often used after verbəː to give back, to go back, to pay back, etc.)

to support by means of money, on the turf or otherwise.—_See_
LAY.

“to get one’s BACK UP,” to annoy or enrage. Probably from the
action of a cat when preparing to give battle to an enemy.

(bak), n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bag, bak a bark, D. bak tray, bowl.]
1. A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc. Hop back, Jack back, the cistern which receives the infusion of malt and hops from the copper. — Wash back, a vat in which distillers ferment the wort to form wash. — Water back, a cistern to hold a supply of water; esp. a small cistern at the back of a stove, or a group of pipes set in the fire box of a stove or furnace, through which water circulates and is heated.
2. A ferryboat. See Bac, 1.

(bak), n. [AS. baec, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. begu flight. Cf. Bacon.]
1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as the back of a horse, fish, or lobster.
2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge. “[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave
Into the clouds.
Milton.”
3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail. “Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss.
Donne.”
4. The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.
5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as the back of a knife, or of a saw.
7. A support or resource in reserve. “This project
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
If this should blast in proof.
Shak.”
8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.] “A bak to walken inne by daylight.
Chaucer.” Behind one’s back, when one is absent; without one’s knowledge; as to ridicule a person behind his back. — Full back, Half back, Quarter back (Football), players stationed behind those in the front line. — To be or lie on one’s back, to be helpless. — To put, or get, one’s back up, to assume an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked). [Colloq.] — To see the back of, to get rid of. — To turn the back, to go away; to flee. — To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.