backbone
|back/bone|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈbækˌboʊn/
🇬🇧
/ˈbækˌbəʊn/
central support
Etymology
Etymology Information
'backbone' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'bæc' meaning 'back' and 'bān' meaning 'bone'.
Historical Evolution
'bæcbān' transformed into the Middle English word 'bakbon', and eventually became the modern English word 'backbone'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'the bone of the back', but over time it evolved to include meanings related to support and strength.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the pelvis; the spine.
The X-ray showed a fracture in the backbone.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the main support or major sustaining factor.
The backbone of the economy is its manufacturing sector.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39