spine

noun

ˈspīn 

1

a

: spinal column

b

: something resembling a spinal column or constituting a central axis or chief support

c

: the part of a book to which the pages are attached and on the cover of which usually appear the title and author's and publisher's names

2

: a stiff pointed plant process

especially : one that is a modified leaf or leaf part compare prickle sense 1, thorn sense 1a

3

: a sharp rigid process on an animal: such as

a

: spicule

b

: a stiff unsegmented fin ray of a fish

c

: a pointed prominence on a bone

spined

ˈspīnd 

adjective

spinelike

ˈspīn-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms of spine

• vertebra
• backbone
• back

Examples of spine in a Sentence

This X-ray shows her spine.

Hedgehogs are covered with spines.

They lack the spine to do what needs to be done.

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the authors think the males may have mounted the females , who were lying on their sides, and pressed down on the females’ tails during mating, accidentally breaking the neural spines. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025

Her book objects might also take colossal form, as in 1967’s The Big Book, featuring eight-foot-by-four-foot pages secured to a central spine and moveable via casters. —News Desk, Artforum, 3 Nov. 2025

Hiroshige’s dramatic composition contrasting nature and civilization creates a sense of movement and immediacy, and sends a shiver down the viewer’s spine—a feeling that García Sánchez also tried to capture. —Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

Spinal stenosis, which causes the spinal column to tighten, and kyphosis, which causes a curved spine, are two types. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 1 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, thorn, spinal column, from Latin spina; perhaps akin to Latin spica ear of grain

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing spine

• a chill down your spine
• a chill/shiver runs up/down someone's spine
• make a chill/shiver run up/down someone's spine
• send a chill/shiver up/down someone's spine
• send shivers/chills up (and down) someone's spine
• spine-chilling
• spine-tingling

Rhymes for spine

• brine
• cline
• dine
• fein
• fine
• gwine
• hine
• jain
• klein
• kline
• line
• mine

Kids Definition

spine

noun

ˈspīn 

1

a

: backbone sense 1

b

: something resembling a backbone

c

: the part of a book to which the pages are attached

2

: a stiff pointed usually sharp projecting part of a plant or animal

protective spines cover the body of a porcupine fish

cactus spines are formed from leaves

Etymology

Middle English spine "thorn, spinal column," from Latin spina (same meaning) — related to porcupine

Medical Definition

spine

noun

ˈspīn 

1

: spinal column

2

: a pointed prominence or process (as on a bone)