back

English Online Dictionary. What means back‎? What does back mean?

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /bæk/, [bæk], [bak], [-k̚], [-ˀk]
• (Scouse) IPA^(key): [bax]
• Rhymes: -æk

Etymology 1

From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback.

Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).

Adjective

back (not generally comparable, comparative more back, superlative most back)

1. At or near the rear.
2. (predicative) Returned or restored to a previous place or condition.

3. Not current.

4. Situated away from the main or most frequented areas.

5. In arrears; overdue.

6. Moving or operating backward.

8. (comparable, phonetics) Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).

Usage notes

In linguistic use describing the position of the tongue, the comparative backer and superlative backest are usual; these may also be occasionally found for other senses, especially informally.

Synonyms

• (near the rear): rear
• (not current): former, previous

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of "near the rear"): front
• (antonym(s) of "not current"): current
• (antonym(s) of "away from the main area"): main (of roads)

Translations

See also

• back vowel

Adverb

back (comparative further back, superlative furthest back)

1. (not comparable) To or in a previous condition or place.

2. In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.

   Someone pushed me in the chest and I fell back.

   The grandfather clock toppled back and crashed to the ground.

   Her arm was bent back at an odd angle.

3. In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.

4. So as to reverse direction and return.

   The light bounces back off the mirror.

5. Towards, into or in the past.

6. Away from someone or something; at a distance.

   Keep back! It could explode at any moment!

7. Away from the front or from an edge.
8. So as to shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.

   This tree is dying back.

   Clear back all this vegetation.

   Draw back the curtains and let in some light.

9. In a manner that impedes.

10. (not comparable) In a reciprocal manner; in return.
11. (postpositive) Earlier, ago.

12. To a later point in time. See also put back.

Derived terms

• spring forward, fall back

Translations

Noun

back (plural backs)

1. The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
   1. The spine and associated tissues.

   2. (slang, uncountable) Large and attractive buttocks.
   3. (figurative) The part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.

   5. The backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.

   6. (obsolete) That part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)
2. That which is farthest away from the front.
   1. The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
      2. The edge of a book which is bound.

      3. (printing) The inside margin of a page.
      4. The side of a blade opposite the side used for cutting.

   2. The reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.

   3. Area behind, such as the backyard of a house.

   4. The part of something that goes last.

   5. (sports) In some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.
3. (figuratively) Upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal's back.

4. A support or resource in reserve.
5. (nautical) The keel and keelson of a ship.

6. (mining) The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
7. (slang, uncountable) Effort, usually physical.

8. A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.

9. Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
10. (swimming) Clipping of backstroke.

Synonyms

• (side opposite the visible side): reverse
• (rear of the body): dorsum
• (bound edge of book): spine

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of "side opposite the front or useful side"): front
• (antonym(s) of "that which is farthest away from the front"): front

Hyponyms

• (lower rear of the body): See Thesaurus:buttocks

Coordinate terms

• (non-alcoholic drink): chaser

Derived terms

Related terms

• bacon

Translations

Verb

back (third-person singular simple present backs, present participle backing, simple past and past participle backed)

1. (intransitive) To go in the reverse direction.
2. (transitive) To support.
3. (nautical, of the wind) To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
4. (nautical, of a square sail) To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.
5. (nautical, of an anchor) To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
6. (UK, of a hunting dog) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
7. (transitive) To push or force backwards.
8. (transitive, obsolete) To get upon the back of; to mount.
9. (transitive, obsolete) To place or seat upon the back.
10. To make a back for; to furnish with a back.

11. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
12. To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.

13. (law, of a justice of the peace) To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
14. To row backward with (oars).

15. (MLE, transitive) To draw from behind the back [+accusative = a knife etc.] (as also back out).
16. (Nigeria, transitive) To carry an infant on one's back.

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of "nautical: of the wind"): veer

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French bac.

Noun

back (plural backs)

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.
2. A ferryboat.

Translations

Czech

Alternative forms

• bek

Etymology

Borrowed from English back.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɛk]
• Rhymes: -ɛk
• Homophone: beg

Noun

back m anim

1. (sports, obsolete) back

   Synonyms: obránce, zadák

   Antonyms: útočník, forward

Declension

Noun

back m inan

1. (sports, rare) defense

   Synonym: obrana

   Antonym: útok

Declension

Further reading

• back in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• back in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English back.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bak/
• Homophone: bac

Adverb

back

1. (Louisiana, Cajun, Acadia) back

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bak/
• Rhymes: -ak

Verb

back

1. inflection of backen:
   1. second-person singular imperative
   2. (colloquial) first-person singular present indicative

Middle English

Noun

back

1. Alternative form of bak (“back”)

Swedish

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From English back.

Noun

back c

1. back; position behind most players on the team
2. reverse; car gear

Declension

Adverb

back (not comparable)

1. backwards (often of machines, engines, etc., or in commands)
2. (in "gå back") to lose (usually money)

3. (in "ligga back") to be at a deficit (usually of money)

Etymology 2

From German Back.

Noun

back c

1. crate; storage of small goods

   Hypernym: lastbärare

   Hyponym: läskback

Declension

References

• back in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• back in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• back in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)