back

At or near the rear.

• Go in the back door of the house.

Returned or restored to a previous place or condition.

• He was on vacation, but now he’s back.
• The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back.

Not current.

• I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine.

Situated away from the main or most frequented areas.

• They took a back road.
• He lives out in the back country.
• It's OK that the highway is jammed, because I know a back way. It's another good way to get there.

In arrears; overdue.

• They still owe three months’ back rent.

Moving or operating backward.

• back action

Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).

• The vowel of lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England.

To or in a previous condition or place.

• He gave back the money.
• I left my mobile phone back at the hotel. I’ll have to go back and get it.

In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.

• Someone pushed me in the chest and I fell back.
• The grandfather clock toppled back and crashed to the ground.
• Her arm was bent back at an odd angle.

In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.

• Wind the film back a few frames.
• Don’t forget to put the clocks back by one hour tonight!
• This mishap has set the project back considerably.

Towards, into or in the past.

• These records go back years.
• He built a time machine and travelled back to 1800.
• Think back to how you felt last year.

Away from someone or something; at a distance.

• Keep back! It could explode at any moment!

Away from the front or from an edge (of something or someone).

• Sit all the way back in your chair.
• Step back from the curb.

So as to shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.

• This tree is dying back.
• Clear back all this vegetation.
• Draw back the curtains and let in some light.

In a manner that impedes.

• Fear held him back.

In a reciprocal manner; in return.

• If you hurt me, I’ll hurt you back.
• The light bounces back off the mirror.

Earlier, ago.

• We met many years back.
• I last saw him a day or two back.

To a later point in time. See also put back.

• The meeting has been moved back an hour. It was at 3 o’clock; now it's at 4 o’clock.

The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.

• Could you please scratch my back?
• I hurt my back lifting those crates.
• I still need to finish the back of your dress.

The spine and associated tissues.

• I hurt my back lifting those crates.

Large and attractive buttocks.

The part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.

• I still need to finish the back of your dress.

The backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.

• Can you fix the back of this chair?

That part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)

That which is farthest away from the front.

• He sat in the back of the room.
• Turn the book over and look at the back.
• The titles are printed on the backs of the books.

The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.

• Turn the book over and look at the back.
• The titles are printed on the backs of the books.
• Tap it with the back of your knife.

The edge of a book which is bound.

• The titles are printed on the backs of the books.

The inside margin of a page.

The side of a blade opposite the side used for cutting.

• Tap it with the back of your knife.

The reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.

• I hung the clothes on the back of the door.

Area behind, such as the backyard of a house or the rear storeroom of a retail store.

• We’ll meet out in the back of the library.
• Are you sure you're totally out of hair gel? Could you please check in the back?

The part of something that goes last.

• The car was near the back of the train.

In some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.

• The backs were lined up in an I formation.

The upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal’s back.

• The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.

A support or resource in reserve.

The keel and keelson of a ship.

• The ship’s back broke in the pounding surf.

To go in the reverse direction.

• The train backed into the station.
• The horse refuses to back.

To support.

• I back you all the way.
• Which horse are you backing in this race?

To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.

To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.

To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.

To push or force backwards.

• to back oxen
• The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.

To get upon the back of; to mount.

To place or seat upon the back.

To make a back for; to furnish with a back.

• to back books

To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.

To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.

• to back a letter;  to back a note or legal document

To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).

To row backward with (oars).

• to back the oars

To draw from behind the back (a knife etc.) (as also back out).

To carry an infant on one’s back.

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.

A ferryboat.