(nautical) Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.
By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
noun
(obsolete) An abacus.
ablewhackets
ablock
abococket
abococket
noun
Alternative form of bycoket
abovedeck
abovedeck
adj
(nautical) Located on deck.
adv
(nautical) On deck.
noun
The area on a boat that is abovedeck.
abricock
abricock
noun
(obsolete) apricot
acknowledgeable
acknowledgeable
adj
Able to be acknowledged.
Worthy of acknowledgement.
acockbill
acockbill
adv
(nautical) Hanging at the cathead, ready to let go, as an anchor.
(nautical) Topped up; having one yardarm higher than the other.
ahorseback
ahorseback
adv
On the back of a horse; horseback.
airbrick
airbrick
noun
Alternative spelling of air brick
amberjack
amberjack
noun
Any of several large food and game yellowtail fishes of the genus Seriola, found in warm waters of all oceans.
amberjacks
amberjacks
noun
plural of amberjack
antibacklash
antibacklash
adj
(mechanics) Countering or preventing backlash (jarring reflex motion in machinery).
antiblack
antiblack
adj
Hostile to black people, often specifically African Americans.
antiblackism
antiblackism
noun
Antiblack sentiments or politics.
antiblock
antikickback
antikickback
adj
Serving to counter kickbacks (illicit payments); antibribery.
Serving to prevent kickbacks (accidents with machinery).
apickaback
apickaback
adv
Alternative form of pickaback
apickback
arbuckle
attackable
attackable
adj
which may be attacked
azoblack
babcock
bacbakiri
bacbakiri
noun
Archaic form of bokmakierie.
bacchuslike
bachelorlike
bachelorlike
adj
Resembling or characteristic of a bachelor.
back
back
adj
(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).
(predicative) Returned or restored to a previous place or condition.
At or near the rear.
In arrears; overdue.
Moving or operating backward.
Not current.
Situated away from the main or most frequented areas.
adv
(not comparable) In a reciprocal manner; in return.
(not comparable) To or in a previous condition or place.
(postpositive) Earlier, ago.
Away from someone or something; at a distance.
Away from the front or from an edge.
In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.
In a manner that impedes.
So as shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.
So as to reverse direction and return.
To a later point in time. See also put back.
Towards, into or in the past.
noun
(figurative) The part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.
(figuratively) Upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal's back.
(mining) The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
(nautical) The keel and keelson of a ship.
(obsolete) That part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)
(printing) The inside margin of a page.
(slang, uncountable) Effort, usually physical.
(slang, uncountable) Large and attractive buttocks.
(sports) In some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.
(swimming) Clipping of backstroke.
A ferryboat.
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 non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
A support or resource in reserve.
Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
Area behind, such as the backyard of a house.
That which is farthest away from the front.
The backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.
The edge of a book which is bound.
The part of something that goes last.
The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
The reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.
The side of a blade opposite the side used for cutting.
The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
The spine and associated tissues.
postp
Before now; ago.
verb
(MLE, transitive) To draw from behind the back [+accusative = a knife etc.] (as also back out).
(Nigeria, transitive) To carry an infant on one's back.
(UK, of a hunting dog) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
(intransitive) To go in the reverse direction.
(law, of a justice of the peace) To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
(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.
(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.
(transitive) To push or force backwards.
(transitive) To support.
(transitive, obsolete) To get upon the back of; to mount.
(transitive, obsolete) To place or seat upon the back.
To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
To row backward with (oars).
To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
backache
backache
noun
Any pain or ache in the back.
backaches
backaches
noun
plural of backache
backaching
backachy
backadation
backage
backare
backare
intj
Alternative form of baccare
backarrow
backarrows
backband
backband
noun
A band that passes over the back of a horse and holds up the shafts of a carriage.
backbar
backbear
backbearing
backbeat
backbeat
noun
(music) The sharp accent on the second and fourth beats of rock music in 4/4 time.
backbeats
backbeats
noun
plural of backbeat
backbencher
backbencher
noun
(by extension) Someone who does not play an active role in a process.
(education) A student who does not perform well, especially one who sits at the back of the classroom.
(politics) A Member of Parliament who does not have cabinet rank, and who therefore sits on one of the backbenches or in one of the back rows of the legislature.
(sports) A member of a team who does not usually play, but who is held in reserve.
backbenchers
backbenchers
noun
plural of backbencher
backbenches
backbenches
noun
plural of backbench
backbend
backbend
noun
(gymnastics, dance) A move in which the performer bends backwards until the hands touch the floor or catches him/herself with the hands.
verb
To perform such a move.
backbends
backbends
noun
plural of backbend
backberand
backberend
backbit
backbit
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backbite
backbite
backbite
noun
One who engages in backbiting; a backbiter.
verb
(informal) To attack from behind or when out of earshot with spiteful or defamatory remarks.
To make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
To speak badly of an absent individual.
backbiter
backbiter
noun
A person who says nasty things about another person behind the second person's back: that is, out of their sight and hearing.
backbiters
backbiters
noun
plural of backbiter
backbites
backbites
noun
plural of backbite
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backbite
backbiting
backbiting
adj
Slanderous or speaking badly, especially of a person without that person's knowledge.
noun
The action of slandering a person without that person's knowledge.
verb
present participle of backbite
backbitingly
backbitingly
adv
In a backbiting manner.
backbitings
backbitings
noun
plural of backbiting
backbitten
backbitten
verb
past participle of backbite
backblocks
backblocks
noun
plural of backblock
backblow
backboard
backboard
noun
(basketball) The flat vertical surface to which the basket is attached.
(medicine) A spine board.
(nautical) The port or larboard side of a ship
(tennis) A flat vertical wall with the image of a tennis net drawn or painted on it, designed to practice hitting against such that the ball rebounds.
A board placed at the back of a cart, boat, etc.
verb
(medicine, transitive) To place (a patient) on a spine board.
backboards
backboards
noun
plural of backboard
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backboard
backbone
backbone
noun
(figuratively) Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.
(figuratively) Courage, fortitude, or strength.
The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
backboned
backboned
adj
Having a spine.
backboneless
backboneless
adj
Cowardly, spineless.
Without a backbone; invertebrate.
backbonelessness
backbonelessness
noun
cowardice; spinelessness
backbones
backbones
noun
plural of backbone
backbrand
backbreaker
backbreaker
noun
A strenuous and exhausting task, typically involving physical effort.
backbreakers
backbreakers
noun
plural of backbreaker
backbreaking
backbreaking
adj
(figuratively) Of work, very physically tiring.
backcap
backcast
backcast
adj
(UK dialectal) Retrospective.
adv
(UK dialectal, of time) Long ago; in the past.
noun
(UK dialectal) Misfortune; reverse; reversal; a relapse in health or illness; moral backsliding.
(UK dialectal) Retrospect; hindsight.
(UK dialectal) backwater
(figuratively) Any discouragement or cause of relapse or failure.
A backward stroke, or a stroke driving one back.
A cast or throw back.
verb
(UK dialectal) To change retrospectively; reverse.
To identify the actions required in order to reach a proposed future.
backcasts
backcasts
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backcast
backchain
backchain
verb
(computing, artificial intelligence) To perform inferences, starting with a list of goals (or a hypothesis) and working backwards from the consequent to the antecedent.
backchat
backchat
noun
(Britain) Cheeky or impertinent responses, especially to criticism.
verb
To respond in a disputative, often sarcastic manner.
backchats
backchats
noun
plural of backchat
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backchat
backchecked
backchecked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backcheck
backchecking
backchecking
verb
present participle of backcheck
backcloth
backcloth
noun
The painted scenery at the back of a stage; the backdrop.
backcomb
backcomb
noun
(dated) A decorative comb worn as an ornament and to secure a hairstyle.
The hairstyle produced by backcombing.
verb
To hold hair and comb it towards the head, thus giving it a bushier look.
backcountry
backcountry
noun
A remote region; countryside that is relatively inaccessible; the boondocks.
backcourt
backcourt
noun
(basketball) A team's defensive half of the court; the part of the court where the other team's basket is located, or the guards playing in that area.
(chiefly Scotland) A courtyard behind a housing block or tenement building.
backcourtman
backcourtman
noun
(basketball) A backcourt player.
backcourtmen
backcourtmen
noun
plural of backcourtman
backcross
backcross
noun
(genetics) An organism produced by such a crossing.
(genetics) The act of crossing a hybrid with one of its parents.
(juggling) Alternative form of back cross
verb
(genetics) To cross a hybrid with one of its parents.
backcrossed
backcrossed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backcross
backcrosses
backcrosses
noun
plural of backcross
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backcross
backcrossing
backcrossing
noun
(genetics) The crossing of a hybrid with one of its parents or an individual genetically similar to its parent.
verb
present participle of backcross
backdate
backdate
noun
An assigned date that is earlier than the current or true date.
verb
To give or assign a date to a document that is earlier than the current or true date.
backdated
backdated
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backdate
backdates
backdates
noun
plural of backdate
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backdate
backdating
backdating
noun
The act by which something is backdated.
verb
present participle of backdate
backdoor
backdoor
noun
Alternative spelling of back door, which can be used attributively.
verb
Alternative spelling of back door
backdown
backdown
noun
An act of backing down; a retraction or withdrawal.
backdrop
backdrop
noun
(figurative) Any background situation.
A decorated cloth hung at the back of a stage.
An image that serves as a visual background.
The setting or background of an acted performance.
verb
(transitive) To serve as a backdrop for.
backdropped
backdropped
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backdrop
backdropping
backdropping
verb
present participle of backdrop
backdrops
backdrops
noun
plural of backdrop
backed
backed
adj
(in combination) Having specified type of back.
(in combination) Having specified type of backing.
(obsolete, slang) Put on one's back; killed; rendered dead.
verb
simple past tense and past participle of back
backen
backened
backening
backer
backer
adj
(phonetics) comparative form of back: more back
noun
One who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs an entrant in a contest, or who supports an enterprise by funding it.
backers
backers
noun
plural of backer
backet
backet
noun
(Scotland) A shallow wooden trough for carrying ashes, coals, etc.
backfall
backfall
noun
(music) A lever in the coupler of an organ.
(wrestling) A fall or throw on the back.
backfatter
backfatter
noun
A pig yielding significant backfat.
backfield
backfield
noun
(American football) The area behind the line of scrimmage occupied before the snap by the team on offense.
(baseball, rare) Synonym of outfield.
(soccer, US) The area behind either the offensive or defensive line.
The players occupying this area.
backfields
backfields
noun
plural of backfield
backfill
backfill
noun
(US) Reserve support personnel.
(US) That which backfills; a replacement.
(literature) Material in a story set earlier in the past, providing history or context for the current action.
The material that has been used to refill an excavation.
verb
(US) To provide reserve support.
(US) To replenish or restock due to attrition or loss.
(archaeology) To refill an excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and/or to preserve the unit and make it recognizable as having been excavated.
(gaming) To enter an online game that's already in progress, replacing a player who left early.
To refill a hole with the material dug out of it.
backfilled
backfilled
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backfill
backfiller
backfiller
noun
A machine for refilling an excavation.
backfilling
backfilling
noun
The process by which something is backfilled.
verb
present participle of backfill
backfills
backfills
noun
plural of backfill
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backfill
backfire
backfire
noun
(firefighting) Alternative spelling of back fire
A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.
An explosion in other equipment.
An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.
verb
(of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc.) To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.
(of an engine) To experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.
To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.
backfired
backfired
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backfire
backfires
backfires
noun
plural of backfire
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backfire
backfiring
backfiring
noun
A failure that leads to further misfortune.
The occurrence of a backfire.
verb
present participle of backfire
backfitting
backfitting
verb
present participle of backfit
backflap
backflash
backflash
noun
Synonym of flashback (“dramatic device”)
The hazardous situation where the flame propagates backward down the hose of an oxyfuel welding and cutting system.
backflip
backflip
noun
(by extension) a total reversal in policy or opinion; a volte-face, a U-turn.
(gymnastics) An act of rotating one's body 360 degrees in the backward direction.
verb
To completely reverse a policy or opinion; perform a U-turn.
To perform a backflip (rotation of body).
backflipped
backflipped
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backflip
backflipping
backflipping
verb
present participle of backflip
backflow
backflow
noun
The flow of a fluid (through a pipe etc.) in a direction opposite to that which is normal or intended.
verb
To flow in the wrong or backward direction.
backflowing
backflowing
adj
flowing backwards
verb
present participle of backflow
backfold
backframe
backfriend
backfriend
noun
(UK, dialectal) A friend at one's back; a backer; one who does his best for another; a supporter.
(UK, dialectal) A hangnail.
(UK, dialectal, obsolete) A false friend; a secret enemy.
backfurrow
backfurrow
noun
(agriculture) The line of piled soil thrown up beside a furrow when it is created by a plow
verb
(agriculture) To throw or turn the soil in alternating directions for every other row that is plowed, so that every pair of furrows has a single backfurrow with clear areas on the outside.
backgame
backgame
noun
(backgammon) A game in which a player blocks the opponent's progress by forming two or more points in the opponent's home board.
An indirect strategy in which one attempts to achieve one's goals by maneuvering behind the scenes.
backgammon
backgammon
noun
A board game for two players in which each has 15 stones which move between 24 triangular points according to the roll of a pair of dice; the object is to move all of one's pieces around, and bear them off the board.
{{lb|en|backgammon}} A victory in the game when the loser has not borne off a stone, and still has one or more stones in the winner's inner home row or on the bar.
verb
To win at a backgammon game with the opponent having one or more pieces in the winner’s inner home row or on the bar.
backgammons
backgammons
noun
plural of backgammon
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backgammon
backgeared
background
background
adj
Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.
noun
(computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.
(computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
(physics) Clipping of background radiation.
A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.
verb
(journalism) To gather and provide background information (on).
To put in a position that is not prominent.
simple past tense and past participle of backgrind
backgrounded
backgrounded
adj
(computing) (of a task) Made non-interactive
Moved to the background
verb
simple past tense and past participle of background
backgrounder
backgrounder
noun
(chiefly US) A briefing or document typically provided prior to a meeting or other event that gives basic details on subjects that are likely to be mentioned.
A cattle farmer or rancher who runs a backgrounding operation.
A person employed to draw backgrounds for a comic or cartoon.
backgrounds
backgrounds
noun
plural of background
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of background
backhand
backhand
adj
(ice hockey) Of a play that uses the back side of the hockey stick
(of handwriting) Slanting to the left.
(of strokes or throws) In the backhand style
noun
(Ultimate Frisbee) the standard throw; a throw during which the disc begins on the off-hand side and travels across the chest to be released from the opposite side.
(surfing) the hand towards the back of the board.
(tennis) a stroke made across the chest from the off-hand side to the racquet hand side; a stroke during which the back of the hand faces the shot.
Handwriting that leans to the left
The reverse side of the human hand.
verb
to execute a backhand stroke or throw
to slap with the back of one's hand
backhanded
backhanded
adj
(of writing) inclining to the left
Backwards, turned around.
Indirect.
Insincere, sarcastic, ironic, or self-contradictory.
Involving a backward flip of the hand.
Retrospective, occurring after the fact rather than in advance.
Self-serving, corrupt, slipshod, or neglectful.
With the back of the hand.
adv
In a backhanded manner.
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backhand
backhandedly
backhandedness
backhandedness
noun
(of writing) Leftward slant.
Backwardness of direction.
Deceit or neglect.
Indirection.
Insincerity, irony, or sarcasm.
The use of a backward flip of the hand.
backhander
backhander
noun
(informal) A bribe, a secret payment.
(racquet sports) A player who plays a backhand shot.
(racquet sports) A shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.
(surfing) A surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").
A blow with the back of the hand.
A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.
backhanders
backhanders
noun
plural of backhander
backhanding
backhanding
verb
present participle of backhand
backhands
backhands
noun
plural of backhand
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backhand
backhatch
backhaul
backhaul
noun
(broadcasting) Uncut program content that is transmitted point-to-point to an individual television or radio station, network or other receiving entity where it will be integrated into a finished show.
(military) The shipment of material to or through an area from which the material had previously been shipped.
(transport) A return trip after delivery of cargo.
(travel, aviation, fare construction) Travel to a destination via a further point, or a higher fare point, than the destination (higher intermediate point).
verb
To transmit (data or footage) from a remote site to a central site from where it is re-transmitted.
backhauled
backhauled
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backhaul
backhauling
backhauling
verb
present participle of backhaul
backhauls
backhauls
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backhaul
backhaus
backheel
backheel
noun
(soccer) A kick played by the heel which typically travels in the opposite direction from which the player is facing.
(wrestling) A method of tripping or throwing by getting the leg back of the opponent's heel on the outside and pulling forward while pushing his body back.
verb
(soccer) To perform such a kick.
(wrestling) To perform such a trip or throw.
backhoe
backhoe
noun
(chiefly US, Canada, Australia) A multi-purpose tractor with a front-mounted loading bucket and a rear-mounted digging bucket. The tractor combines a front-end loader/loader and an excavator/digger.
A piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket or scoop on the end of an articulated arm, drawn backwards to move earth. Used in excavator/digger and backhoe tractors.