backbone

back·bone

noun \-ˈbōn, -ˌbōn\

Definition of BACKBONE

1

: spinal column, spine

2

: something that resembles a backbone: as a : a chief mountain ridge, range, or system b : the foundation or most substantial or sturdiest part of something c : the longest chain of atoms or groups of atoms in a usually long molecule (as a polymer or protein) d : the primary high-speed hardware and transmission lines of a telecommunications network (as the Internet)

3

: firm and resolute character

4

: spine 1c

— back·boned \-ˌbōnd\ adjective

Examples of BACKBONE

1. She is the backbone of the family.
2. He showed some backbone by refusing to compromise his values.

First Known Use of BACKBONE

14th century

Related to BACKBONE

Synonyms: spine, chine, spinal column, vertebral column

Antonyms: spinelessness

Related Words: back, spinal cord, vertebra

Near Antonyms: indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation; cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousness

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BACKBONE

agon, aitchbone, alone, atone, Bastogne, bemoan, Big Stone, birthstone, Blackstone, bloodstone, bluestone, bondstone, Boulogne, breastbone, bridge loan, brimstone, brownstone, call loan, calzone, Capone, capstone, cell phone, cheekbone, chinbone, cogon, cologne, Cologne, colon, colón, Colón, condone, copestone, corn pone, curbstone, cyclone, daimon, dapsone, debone, depone, dethrone, dial tone, disown, Dordogne, downzone, dripstone, drop zone, drystone, earphone, earth tone, end zone, enthrone, estrone, fieldstone, firestone, Firestone, flagstone, flowstone, flyblown, footstone, freestone, free zone, full-blown, gallstone, gemstone, Gijón, goldstone, gravestone, greenstone, grindstone, hailstone, halftone, handblown, hard stone, headphone, headstone, hearthstone, high-flown, hip bone, homegrown, hormone, hornstone, impone, ingrown, inkstone, in stone, intone, jawbone, jewel tone, keystone, León, leone, life zone, limestone, lodestone, long bone, Maidstone, milestone, millstone, moonstone, mudstone, nose cone, oilstone, orgone, ozone, pay phone, peptone, pinbone, pinecone, piñon, pipestone, postpone, potstone, propone, redbone, red zone, rhinestone, sandstone, shade-grown, shinbone, siltstone, snow cone, soapstone, splint bone, strike zone, T-bone, tailbone, thighbone, time zone, toadstone, tombstone, touchstone, touch-tone, tritone, trombone, turnstone, twelve-tone, two-tone, Tyrone, unknown, unthrone, war zone, well-known, whalebone, wheel-thrown, whetstone, windblown, wishbone, Yangon