spine

[ spahyn ]

noun

1. the spinal or vertebral column; backbone.
2. any backbonelike part.
3. a stiff, pointed process or appendage on an animal, as a quill of a porcupine, or a sharp, bony ray in the fin of a fish.
4. something, as a quality or trait, that constitutes a principal strength; resolution; stamina; backbone:

   a situation that would test a person's spine.

5. a ridge, as of ground or rock.
6. a sharp-pointed, hard or woody outgrowth on a plant; thorn.
7. Bookbinding. the back of a book cover or binding, usually indicating the title and author.

spine

/ spaɪn /

noun

1. the spinal column
2. the sharply pointed tip or outgrowth of a leaf, stem, etc
3. zoology a hard pointed process or structure, such as the ray of a fin, the quill of a porcupine, or the ridge on a bone
4. the back of a book, record sleeve, etc
5. a ridge, esp of a hill
6. strength of endurance, will, etc
7. anything resembling the spinal column in function or importance; main support or feature

spine

/ spīn /

1. See vertebral column
2. Any of various pointed projections, processes, or appendages of animals.
3. A sharp-pointed projection on a plant, especially a hard, narrow modified leaf, as on a cactus, that is adapted to reduce water loss.
4. Compare thornSee more at leaf

Derived Forms

• spined, adjective

Other Words From

• spined adjective
• spinelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spine¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin spīna thorn, backbone

Word History and Origins

Origin of spine¹

C14: from Old French espine spine, from Latin spīna thorn, backbone

Example Sentences

The third cluster usually presented with spinal deformities, which may require the standard decompression procedure and possible further spine surgeries.

From Science Daily

My specialty focuses on the evaluation and treatment of patients with spine and sports-related problems.

From Salon

That echoes other members of the Senate GOP caucus, including Texas’ John Cornyn and South Dakota’s Mike Rounds, and it’s more spine than some Trump allies have shown.

From Salon

"My mam plaits it in two plaits so it goes directly between my spine... She has always plaited my hair since so it's kind of a tradition now."

From BBC

The strange green dinosaur has the neck of a barosaur, a diplodocus-like spine.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bone
• vertebrae