Backbone

Quick meaning: Backbone is a noun meaning (countable, figuratively) Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.

Meaning

(countable, figuratively) Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.

More Meanings

1. (uncountable, figuratively) Courage, fortitude, or strength.
2. (countable) The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.

Example Sentences

Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.

He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone.

East [Street] and West Street form a single thoroughfare running as a backbone through the village, flanked by neat, painted cottages of predominantly 18th-century brick.

Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been the backbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so.

Word Forms

• backbones
• back bone

Synonyms for backbone

Depending on context, synonyms include spine, anchor, grit, gumption, linchpin, back.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include spine, grit, sand, lynchpin, linchpin, back.

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