backbone

American  

[bak-bohn] / ˈbækˌboʊn /

noun

backbones plural

1. Anatomy. the spinal column; spine.

2. strength of character; resolution.

   Synonyms:

   fortitude, decision, firmness

3. something resembling a backbone in appearance, position, or function.

4. Bookbinding. a back or bound edge of a book; spine.

5. Nautical. a rope running along the middle of an awning, as a reinforcement and as an object to which a supporting bridle or crowfoot may be attached.

6. Naval Architecture. the central fore-and-aft assembly of the keel and keelson, giving longitudinal strength to the bottom of a vessel.

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backbone British  

/ ˈbækˌbəʊn /

noun

1. a nontechnical name for spinal column

2. something that resembles the spinal column in function, position, or appearance

3. strength of character; courage

4. the main or central mountain range of a country or region

5. nautical the main longitudinal members of a vessel, giving structural strength

6. computing (in computer networks) a large-capacity, high-speed central section by which other network segments are connected

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backbone Scientific  

/ băk′bōn′ /

1. See vertebral column

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backbone Cultural  

1. The primary line(s) that connects the slower, shorter cable portions of a communications network together. (See last mile.) In larger networks, such as the Internet, a backbone consists of high-capacity, high-speed lines that can extend over great distances.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• backboned
  adjective
• backboneless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• backbones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of backbone

1250–1300; Middle English bacbon. See back ¹, bone ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

backbone backbones

The seven thermal power plants that form the national grid's backbone have all been in operation for more than 40 years, and are in various states of disrepair.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

Canada wants to create a locally owned AI backbone, as do dozens of other countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Supporting small and medium-sized businesses has been among Vladimir Putin's declared priorities even in wartime, and framed as a backbone of resilience in the face of Western sanctions.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Sun Microsystems powered the internet’s backbone and gave the world Java.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

The four bases protruded out from the backbone, like leaves emerging out of the tendril of ivy.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

For decades, palaeontologists believed that the largest ocean predators were vertebrates with backbones such as fish and reptiles while invertebrates like octopuses and squid played supporting roles.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

“If you look at the collection of companies that ultimately formed Lumen, the underlying technologies and backbones were never integrated,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 16, 2026

Sea squirts are invertebrates, making them useful for identifying differences between animals without backbones and those with them.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 4, 2026

Animals without a backbones evolved first, around 700 million years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

Their anger had their bristles standing in high fierce ridges along their backbones.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson

Related Words

• foundation
• spine