ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English bakbon, from bak back + bon bone
1. : spine , spinal column , vertebral column
2.
a.
(1) : the chief mountain ridge, range, or system of a country or region
the broad uplands of the Pennines form … the backbone of England — L.D.Stamp
down the small pod-shaped peninsula … runs a backbone of high mountains — J.B.P.Robinson
(2) : the foundation or most substantial or sturdiest part of any material object
a heavy length of wood … which forms the backbone of the boat — Manual of Seamanship
saw the girders, the gaunt steel backbone of the building, rising in the air
b.
(1) : the mainstay, principal support, or most substantial element or part of something
the clothiers have been described as the backbone of the middle class — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
those branches of general medicine which form the backbone of aviation medicine — H.G.Armstrong
corn is the backbone of our agriculture — P.C.Mangelsdorf
(2) : firm and resolute character : strength of will
she is dealing with a man who has backbone — Margaret Deland
displayed backbone by his frank admission of guilt
3. : the edge of a book along which the sections are secured together in binding : the part that shows as the book ordinarily stands on a shelf and that is often lettered with the title and the author's and publisher's names — called also back, backstrip, shelfback, spine
4. : a rope attached fore and aft along the center of a ship's awning to support and strengthen it
5. : a main railroad-yard track from which other tracks branch
Synonyms: see fortitude
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- to the backbone