noun a ferryboat. ·see bac, 1.
2. back ·adv (of time) in times past; ago.
3. back ·noun the keel and keelson of a ship.
4. back ·noun a support or resource in reserve.
5. back ·vi to place or seat upon the back.
6. back ·adv in return, repayment, or requital.
7. back ·adv in a state of restraint or hindrance.
8. back ·adj being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
9. back ·noun a garment for the back; hence, clothing.
10. back ·vi to adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
11. back ·adv away from contact; by reverse movement.
12. back ·adv in arrear; as, to be back in one's rent.
13. back ·adj moving or operating backward; as, back action.
14. back ·noun an extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
15. back ·vi to bet on the success of;
as, to back a race horse.
xvi. back ·vi to move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
xvii. back ·vi to get upon the back of; to mount.
xviii. back ·adv in, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
xix. back ·vi to make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
xx. back ·vi to stand still behind another dog which has pointed;
said of a dog.
xxi. back ·noun the upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
xxii. back ·vi to drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
xxiii. back ·adj being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
xxiv. back ·adv in withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back the offensive words.
xxv. back ·adv to a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
xxvi. back ·noun the part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
xxvii. back ·vi to change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun;
used of the wind.
xxviii. back ·vi to write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
xxix. back ·adv in concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
xxx. back ·noun the part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.
xxxi. back ·vi to support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend.
xxxii. back ·noun the outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.
xxxiii. back ·noun a large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, ·etc.
xxxiv. back ·noun the part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
xxxv. back ·adv to the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.
xxxvi. back ·noun in human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish, or lobster.