noun
Common
spine
Spine (noun) means the column of bones running down the back, from the head down to the tail or pelvis, that protects the spinal cord and holds up the chest and abdomen. Example: “The doctor checked my spine to see whether my back was straight.”
noun
1
The column of bones running down the back, from the head down to the tail or pelvis, that protects the spinal cord and holds up the chest and abdomen.
"The doctor checked my spine to see whether my back was straight."
"Swimming can strengthen the muscles that support your spine."
"A cat's flexible spine lets it twist in the air and land on its feet."
2
Bravery or a willingness to stand up for yourself.
"It took real spine to tell the manager he had made a mistake."
"I wish he had the spine to say no to his bossy friends."
"The young goalkeeper showed great spine by saving the final penalty."
3
A ridge or other long central structure that other parts branch out from, shaped a bit like a backbone.
"The mountain range has a long rocky spine with valleys branching off on either side."
"A stiff central spine runs along the leaf, and smaller veins spread out from it."
"Engineers built the network around a high-speed spine that connects every smaller branch."
4
The narrow edge of a book that holds the pages together and faces outward on a shelf, usually printed with the title and author's name.
"I found the book quickly because its bright red spine stood out on the shelf."
"The library sticks a small label on the spine of every book."
"Years of reading had cracked the spine of her favourite novel."
"The spine is the book's backbone. Because the spine is generally all you can see when a book is on the shelf, the spine displays the title and author of the book and is often ornately decorated."
— “Rare Book Basics: Book Terms Illustrated”, Rare Book Basics: Book Terms Illustrated (1994)
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The doctor checked my _____ to see whether my back was straight.
Etymology
Came from late Middle English spyne, from Old French espine (French épine) or its source, Latin spīna (“a thorn; a prickle, spine; the backbone”). A doublet of spina.
Related words
Rhymes for spine
See all rhymes for spine →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of spine?
"spine" (noun) means the column of bones running down the back, from the head down to the tail or pelvis, that protects the spinal cord and holds up the chest and abdomen.
What is another word for spine?
Other words for "spine" include prickle, back, rachis, spur, backbone, sticker.
What are the different meanings of spine?
"spine" has 3 main meanings: 1. The column of bones running down the back, from the head down to the tail or pelvis, that protects the spinal cord and holds up the chest and abdomen; 2. Bravery or a willingness to stand up for yourself; 3. A ridge or other long central structure that other parts branch out from, shaped a bit like a backbone.
How do you use spine in a sentence?
Example: "The doctor checked my spine to see whether my back was straight."
