n.1 a series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the small of the back, enclosing the spinal cord and providing support for the thorax and abdomen; the backbone.
2 Zool. & Bot. any hard pointed process or structure.
3 a sharp ridge or projection, esp. of a mountain range or slope.
4 a central feature, main support, or source of strength.
5 the part of a book's jacket or cover that encloses the page-fastening part and usu. faces outwards on a shelf.
Phrases and idioms:
spine-chiller a frightening story, film, etc. spine-chilling (esp. of a story etc.) frightening.
Derivatives:
spined adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF espine or L spina thorn, backbone