back

(not comparable, usually)At or near the rear.

Go in the back door of the house.

(not comparable, predicative, usually)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 comparable, usually)Not current.

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

(not comparable, usually)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.

(not comparable, usually)In arrears; overdue.

They still owe three months’ back rent.

(not comparable, usually)Moving or operating backward.

back action

(comparable, not comparable, usually)(comparable, phonetics) 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.

(not comparable)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.

Everything was simpler back in the old days.

Away from someone or something; at a distance.

Keep back! It could explode at any moment!

Away from the front or from an edge.

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.

(not comparable)In a reciprocal manner; in return.

If you hurt me, I’ll hurt you back.

The light bounces back off the mirror.

(postpositional)(postpositive) 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.

(countable, uncountable)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?

(countable, uncountable)That which is farthest away from the front.

He sat in the back of the room.

(countable, figuratively, uncountable)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.

(countable, uncountable)A support or resource in reserve.

(countable, uncountable)(nautical) The keel and keelson of a ship.

The ship’s back broke in the pounding surf.

(countable, uncountable)(mining) The roof of a horizontal underground passage.

(slang, uncountable)Effort, usually physical.

Put some back into it!

(countable, uncountable)A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.

Could I get a martini with a water back?

(countable, uncountable)Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.

(abbreviation, alt of, clipping, countable, uncountable)(swimming) Clipping of backstroke.

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.

(intransitive)To go in the reverse direction.

The train backed into the station.

The horse refuses to back.

(transitive)To support.

I back you all the way.

Which horse are you backing in this race?

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

(nautical, of a square sail) To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.

(nautical, of an anchor) To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.

(UK)(UK, of a hunting dog) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.

(transitive)To push or force backwards.

to back oxen

The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.

(obsolete, transitive)To get upon the back of; to mount.

(obsolete, transitive)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

(morpheme)Back in its adverbial senses.

(morpheme)Situated, located, or toward the rear; backward or in reverse; in return; again.

(UK, morpheme, obsolete)False; pseudo-.

backfriend