spine

American  

[spahyn] / spaɪn /

noun

1. the spinal or vertebral column; backbone.

2. any backbonelike part.

3. a stiff, pointed process or appendage on an animal, as a quill of a porcupine, or a sharp, bony ray in the fin of a fish.

4. something, as a quality or trait, that constitutes a principal strength; resolution; stamina; backbone.

   a situation that would test a person's spine.

5. a ridge, as of ground or rock.

6. a sharp-pointed, hard or woody outgrowth on a plant; thorn.

7. Bookbinding. the back of a book cover or binding, usually indicating the title and author.

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spine British  

/ spaɪn /

noun

1. the spinal column

2. the sharply pointed tip or outgrowth of a leaf, stem, etc

3. zoology a hard pointed process or structure, such as the ray of a fin, the quill of a porcupine, or the ridge on a bone

4. the back of a book, record sleeve, etc

5. a ridge, esp of a hill

6. strength of endurance, will, etc

7. anything resembling the spinal column in function or importance; main support or feature

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spine Scientific  

/ spīn /

1. See vertebral column

2. Any of various pointed projections, processes, or appendages of animals.

3. A sharp-pointed projection on a plant, especially a hard, narrow modified leaf, as on a cactus, that is adapted to reduce water loss.

4. Compare thorn See more at leaf

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Other Word Forms

• spined adjective
• spinelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of spine

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin spīna thorn, backbone

Example Sentences

Initially, researchers only saw a few bones, including parts of the legs and spine.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

This aesthetic tech neck isn’t to be confused with the orthopedic condition, in which hours of looking down leave people with joint pain in the cervical spine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Europe’s spine stiffened in part because 2025 exceeded expectations economically, says Jeremie Peloso, chief European strategist at BCA Research.

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

The new drug zorevunersen is administered into the spine via an infusion and works by managing the underlying cause in most cases - a faulty gene affecting the brain.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

He always sat like he’d attached a steel pole to his spine, but it was even worse now.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• bone
• vertebrae