Bachelordom - Backpiece

Prev Next

3. A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university; as, a bachelor of arts.
[ Webster]

4. A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
[ Webster]

5. In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

6. (Zoöl.) A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States.
[ Webster]

bachelor-at-arms n. a knight of the lowest order; he was permitted to display only a pennon.
Syn. -- knight bachelor, bachelor
[WordNet 1.5]

Bachelordom (băch�lẽrdŭm), n. The state of bachelorhood; the whole body of bachelors.
[ Webster]

Bachelorhood (-h�d), n. The state or condition of being a bachelor; bachelorship.
[ Webster]

Bachelorism (-ĭz'm), n. Bachelorhood; also, a manner or peculiarity belonging to bachelors. W. Irving.
[ Webster]

Bachelor's button (�), (Bot.) A plant with flowers shaped like buttons; especially, several species of Ranunculus, and the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena).
[ Webster]

☞ Bachelor's buttons, a name given to several flowers “from their similitude to the jagged cloathe buttons, anciently worne in this kingdom,” according to Johnson's Gerarde, p. 472 (1633); but by other writers ascribed to “a habit of country fellows to carry them in their pockets to divine their success with their sweethearts.” Dr. Prior.
[ Webster]

Bachelorship, n. The state of being a bachelor.
[ Webster]

Bachelry (�), n. [OF. bachelerie.] The body of young aspirants for knighthood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Bacillar (�), a. [L. bacillum little staff.] (Biol.) 1. Shaped like a rod or staff.
[ Webster]

2. (Biol.) Pertaining to, or produced by, the organism bacillus; bacillary.
[Webster Suppl.]

Bacillariæ (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. bacillum, dim. of baculum stick.] (Biol.) See .
[ Webster]

Bacillary (�), a. 1. Of or pertaining to little rods; rod-shaped.
[ Webster]

2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to bacilli; produced by, or containing, bacilli; bacillar; as, a bacillary disease.
[Webster Suppl.]

bacilli n. plural of ; usually designating aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacteria; they often occur in chainlike formations.
Syn. -- bacillus
[WordNet 1.5]

Bacilliform (�), a. [L. bacillum little staff + -form.] Rod-shaped.
[ Webster]

Bacillus (�), n.; pl. Bacilli (�). [NL., for L. bacillum. See .] (Biol.) A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism.
[ Webster]

bacitracin n. (1940) [Bacillus + Margaret Tracy, (a child whose tissues contained Bacillus subtilis) + -in. RHUD.] a polypeptide antibacterial antibiotic of known chemical structure effective against several types of Gram-positive organisms, and usually used topically for superficial local infection. It is produced by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, and as produced commercially is composed of several closely related substances. The predominant component, Bacitracin A, has a formula C60H103N17O16S, and contains D-ornithine, D-phenylalanine and D-glutamine residues as well as the L-isomers of leucine, isoleucine, histidine, asparagine and aspartic acid. [MI11]
[WordNet 1.5]

Back (�), n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bag, bak a bark, D. bak tray, bowl.] 1. 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.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Hop back , Coloq. Jack back , the cistern which receives the infusion of malt and hops from the copper. -- Coloq. Wash back , a vat in which distillers ferment the wort to form wash. -- Coloq. Water back , a cistern to hold a supply of water; esp. a small cistern at the back of a stove, or a group of pipes set in the fire box of a stove or furnace, through which water circulates and is heated.
[ Webster]

2. A ferryboat. See , 1.
[ Webster]

Back (băk), n. [AS. bæc, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. bēgŭ flight. Cf. .] 1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish, or lobster.
[ Webster]

2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
[ Webster]

[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave
Into the clouds. Milton.
[ Webster]

3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.
[ Webster]

Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss. Donne.
[ Webster]

4. The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.
[ Webster]

5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
[ Webster]

6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
[ Webster]

7. A support or resource in reserve.
[ Webster]

This project
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
If this should blast in proof. Shak.
[ Webster]

8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
[ Webster]

9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
[ Webster]

10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

A bak to walken inne by daylight. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Behind one's back , when one is absent; without one's knowledge; as, to ridicule a person behind his back. -- Coloq. Full back , Coloq. Half back , Coloq. Quarter back (Football), players stationed behind those in the front line. -- Coloq. To be on one's back or Coloq. To lie on one's back , to be helpless. -- Coloq. To put one's back up or Coloq. to get one's back up , to assume an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked). [Colloq.] -- Coloq. To see the back of , to get rid of. -- Coloq. To turn the back , to go away; to flee. -- Coloq. To turn the back on one , to forsake or neglect him.
[ Webster]

Back, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
[ Webster]

2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
[ Webster]

3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Back blocks , Australian pastoral country which is remote from the seacoast or from a river. [Webster Suppl.] -- Coloq. Back charges , charges brought forward after an account has been made up. -- Coloq. Back filling (Arch.), the mass of materials used in filling up the space between two walls, or between the inner and outer faces of a wall, or upon the haunches of an arch or vault. -- Coloq. Back pressure . (Steam Engine) See under . -- Coloq. Back rest , a guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe, and placed in contact with the work, to steady it in turning. -- Coloq. Back slang , a kind of slang in which every word is written or pronounced backwards; as, nam for man. -- Coloq. Back stairs , stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs. Also used adjectively. See , , and , in the Vocabulary. -- Coloq. Back step (Mil.), the retrograde movement of a man or body of men, without changing front. -- Coloq. Back stream , a current running against the main current of a stream; an eddy. -- Coloq. To take the back track , to retrace one's steps; to retreat. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Back (băk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Backed (băkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.]
[ Webster]

1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
[ Webster]

I will back him [a horse] straight. Shak.
[ Webster]

2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
[ Webster]

Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed,
Appeared to me. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
[ Webster]

4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
[ Webster]

5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
[ Webster]

A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. Shak.
[ Webster]

The chalk cliffs which back the beach. Huxley.
[ Webster]

6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
[ Webster]

7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend. “The Parliament would be backed by the people.” Macaulay.
[ Webster]

Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards and punishments. South.
[ Webster]

The mate backed the captain manfully. Blackw. Mag.
[ Webster]

8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To back an anchor (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened to the crown of the large one. -- Coloq. To back the field , in horse racing, to bet against a particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other horses, collectively designated “the field”, will win. -- Coloq. To back the oars , to row backward with the oars. -- Coloq. To back a rope , to put on a preventer. -- Coloq. To back the sails , to arrange them so as to cause the ship to move astern. -- Coloq. To back up , to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's friends. -- Coloq. To back a warrant (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in the county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or indorse a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender. -- Coloq. To back water (Naut.), to reverse the action of the oars, paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship backward.
[ Webster]

Back, v. i. 1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
[ Webster]

2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
[ Webster]

3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog. [Eng.]
[ Webster]

Coloq. To back and fill , to manage the sails of a ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind. Hence: (Fig.) To take opposite positions alternately; to assert and deny. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. To back out , Coloq. To back down , to retreat or withdraw from a promise, engagement, or contest; to recede. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Cleon at first . . . was willing to go; but, finding that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to back out. Jowett (Thucyd. )
[ Webster]

Back, adv. [Shortened from aback.] 1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
[ Webster]

2. To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.
[ Webster]

3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
[ Webster]

4. (Of time) In times past; ago. “Sixty or seventy years back.” Gladstone.
[ Webster]

5. Away from contact; by reverse movement.
[ Webster]

The angel of the Lord . . . came, and rolled back the stone from the door. Matt. xxviii. 2.
[ Webster]

6. In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
[ Webster]

7. In a state of restraint or hindrance.
[ Webster]

The Lord hath kept thee back from honor. Numb. xxiv. 11.
[ Webster]

8. In return, repayment, or requital.
[ Webster]

What have I to give you back? Shak.
[ Webster]

9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back the offensive words.
[ Webster]

10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Coloq. Back and forth , backwards and forwards; to and fro. -- Coloq. To go back on , to turn back from; to abandon; to betray; as, to go back on a friend; to go back on one's professions. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

backache n. an ache localized in the back.
[WordNet 1.5]

back-and-forth n. a discussion; give-and-take.
[PJC]

Backarack (băkȧrăk), n. See .
[ Webster]

Backare (�), interj. Same as .
[ Webster]

Backband (băkbănd), n. [2nd back, n. + band.] (Saddlery) The band which passes over the back of a horse and holds up the shafts of a carriage.
[ Webster]

backbench (băkbĕnch), n. 1. any of the seats occupied by backbenchers in the House of Commons of Great Britain.
[WordNet 1.5]

backbencher (băkbĕnchẽr), n. a member of the House of Commons of Great Britain who is not a party leader.
[WordNet 1.5]

backbend (băkbĕnd), n. 1. an acrobatic feat in which the trunk is bent backward from a standing position until the hands touch the floor.
[WordNet 1.5]

Backbite, v. t. [2d back, n. + bite.] To wound by clandestine detraction; to censure meanly or spitefully (an absent person); to slander or speak evil of (one absent). Spenser.
[ Webster]

Backbite, v. i. To censure or revile the absent.
[ Webster]

They are arrant knaves, and will backbite. Shak.
[ Webster]

Backbiter (�), n. One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor.
[ Webster]

Backbiting (�), n. Secret slander; detraction.
[ Webster]

Backbiting, and bearing of false witness. Piers Plowman.
[ Webster]

Backboard (�), n. [2d back, n. + board.]
[ Webster]

1. A board which supports the back when one is sitting; specifically, the board athwart the after part of a boat.
[ Webster]

2. A board serving as the back part of anything, as of a wagon.
[ Webster]

3. A thin stuff used for the backs of framed pictures, mirrors, etc.
[ Webster]

4. A board attached to the rim of a water wheel to prevent the water from running off the floats or paddles into the interior of the wheel. W. Nicholson.
[ Webster]

5. A board worn across the back to give erectness to the figure. Thackeray.
[ Webster]

Backbond (băkbŏnd), n. [Back, adv. + bond.] (Scots Law) An instrument which, in conjunction with another making an absolute disposition, constitutes a trust.
[ Webster]

Backbone (băkbōn), n. [2d back, n. + bone.]
[ Webster]

1. The column of bones in the back which sustains and gives firmness to the frame; the spine; the vertebral or spinal column.
[ Webster]

2. Anything like , or serving the purpose of, a backbone.
[ Webster]

The lofty mountains on the north side compose the granitic axis, or backbone of the country. Darwin.
[ Webster]

We have now come to the backbone of our subject. Earle.
[ Webster]

3. Firmness; moral principle; steadfastness.
[ Webster]

Shelley's thought never had any backbone. Shairp.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To the backbone , through and through; thoroughly; entirely. “Staunch to the backbone.” Lord Lytton.
[ Webster]

Backboned (�), a. Vertebrate.
[ Webster]

Backcast (băkkȧst), n. [Back, adv. + cast.] Anything which brings misfortune upon one, or causes failure in an effort or enterprise; a reverse. [Scot.]
[ Webster]

backdate v. t. 1. to make effective from an earlier date; to make retroactive. The increase in tax was backdated to January.
Syn. -- back-date
[WordNet 1.5]

2. to affix a date earlier than the present date; -- sometimes done for fraudulent purposes. Opposite of postdate.
Syn. -- back-date; predate; antedate.
[PJC]

Backdate is sometimes used incorrectly for postdate.

Back door (�). A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way. Atterbury.
[ Webster]

Backdoor, a. Acting from behind and in concealment; backstairs; as, backdoor intrigues.
[ Webster]

Backdown (�), n. A receding or giving up; a complete surrender. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

backdrop n. 1. the scenery hung at back of stage. Also called in Britain backcloth.
Syn. -- background, backcloth
[WordNet 1.5]

2. the background, setting, or circumstances of an event; as, the backdrop for the summit meeting.
[PJC]

Backed (băkt), a. Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad-backed; hump-backed.
[ Webster]

Backer (băkẽr), n. One who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs a person or thing in a contest.
[ Webster]

Backfall (băkf�l), n. [2d back, n. + fall.] A fall or throw on the back in wrestling.
[ Webster]

backfire, back fire. 1. A fire started ahead of a forest or prairie fire to burn only against the wind, so that when the two fires meet both must go out for lack of fuel.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. (a) 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 a direction reverse to that in which it should travel; also called a knock or ping. (b) an explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.
[Webster Suppl. +PJC]

Backfire Back-fire, v. i. 1. (Engin.) To have or experience a back fire or back fires; -- said of an internal-combustion engine.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. Of a Bunsen or similar air-fed burner, to light so that the flame proceeds from the internal gas jet instead of from the external jet of mixed gas and air. -- Back-firing, n.
[Webster Suppl.]

back-formation n. (Linguistics) 1. a word invented (usually unwittingly by subtracting an affix) on the assumption that a familiar word derives from it, such as emote from emotion.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

2. the process of inventing a back-formation{1}.
[PJC]

Backfriend (�), n. [Back, n. or adv. + friend.] A secret enemy. [Obs.] South.
[ Webster]

backgammon (�), n. [Origin unknown; perhaps fr. Dan. bakke tray + E. game; or very likely the first part is from E. back, adv., and the game is so called because the men are often set back.] A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a “board” marked off into twenty-four spaces called “points”. Each player has fifteen pieces, or “men”, the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables.
[ Webster]

Coloq. backgammon board , a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two “tables”.
[ Webster]

backgammon, v. t. In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before the loser is clear of his first “table”. When played for betting purposes, the winner in such a case scores three times the wagered amount.
[ Webster +PJC]

background (�), n. [Back, a. + ground.]
[ Webster]

1. Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.
[ Webster]

2. (Paint.) The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures.
[ Webster]

☞ The distance in a picture is usually divided into foreground, middle distance, and background. Fairholt.
[ Webster]

3. Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings.
[ Webster]

4. A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.
[ Webster]

I fancy there was a background of grinding and waiting before Miss Torry could produce this highly finished . . . performance. Mrs. Alexander.
[ Webster]

A husband somewhere in the background. Thackeray.
[ Webster]

5. The set of conditions within which an action takes place, including the social and physical conditions as well as the psychological states of the participants; as, within the background of the massive budget deficits of the 1980's, new spending programs had little chance of passage by the congress.
[PJC]

6. The set of conditions that precede and affect an action, such as the social and historical precedents for the event, as well as the general background{5}; as, against the background of their expulsion by the Serbs, the desire of Kosovars for vengeance is understandable though regrettable.
[PJC]

7. (Science) The signals that may be detected by a measurement which are not due to the phenomenon being studied, and tend to make the measurement uncertain to a greater or lesser degree. Specifically: (Physics) Electronic noise present in a system using electronic measuring instrument or in a telecommunications system, which may hide and which must be differentiated from the desired signal; also called background noise or noise.
[PJC]

8. (Journalism) An agreement between a journalist and an interviewee that the name of the interviewee will not be quoted in any publication, although the substance of the remarks may be reported; -- often used in the phrase “on background”. Compare deep background.
[PJC]

Coloq. To place in the background , to make of little consequence. Coloq. To keep in the background , to remain unobtrusive, inconspicuous or out of sight; -- of people. Coloq. deep background , (Journalism) the status of an interview which must not be quoted in a publication, even without attribution. Compare {8}.
[ Webster +PJC]

backgrounding n. (Computers) The execution of low priority programs while higher priority programs are not using the processing system.
Syn. -- background processing
[WordNet 1.5]

Backhand (�), n. [Back, adv. + hand.] 1. A kind of handwriting in which the downward slope of the letters is from left to right.
[ Webster]

2. (Sports) The stroke of a ball with a racket or paddle, in which head of the racket starts from the side of the body opposite to that of the arm in which the racket is held, and proceeds forward to meet the ball. Contrasted with forehand.
[PJC]

Backhand, a. 1. Sloping from left to right; -- said of handwriting.
[ Webster]

2. Backhanded; indirect; oblique. [R.]
[ Webster]

Backhanded, a. 1. With the hand turned backward; as, a backhanded blow.
[ Webster]

2. Indirect; awkward; insincere; sarcastic; as, a backhanded compliment.
[ Webster]

3. Turned back, or inclining to the left; as, backhanded letters.
[ Webster]

backhanded, a. & adv. (Sport) Stroked with a backhand{2}; as, a backhanded drive.
[PJC]

Backhandedness, n. State of being backhanded; the using of backhanded or indirect methods.
[ Webster]

Backhander (�), n. A backhanded blow.
[ Webster]

Backheel (?), n. (Wrestling) A method of tripping by getting the leg back of the opponent's heel on the outside and pulling forward while pushing his body back; a throw made in this way. -- v. t. To trip (a person) in this way.
[Webster Suppl.]

Backhouse (�), n. [Back, a. + house.] A building behind the main building. Specifically: A privy; an outhouse; a necessary.
[ Webster]

Backing, n. 1. The act of moving backward, or of putting or moving anything backward.
[ Webster]

2. That which is behind, and forms the back of, anything, usually giving strength or stability.
[ Webster]

3. Support or aid given to a person or cause.
[ Webster]

4. (Bookbinding) The preparation of the back of a book with glue, etc., before putting on the cover.
[ Webster]

Backjoint (băkjoint), n. [Back, a. or adv. + joint.] (Arch.) A rebate or chase in masonry left to receive a permanent slab or other filling.
[ Webster]

Backlash (băklăsh), n. [Back, adv. + lash.] 1. (Mech.) The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.
[ Webster]

2. A strong and sudden reverse movement in a moving part of a machine.
[PJC]

3. A strong popular reaction serving to counter the effect of an action; -- used especially of adverse reactions to social or political developments.
[PJC]

Backless, a. Without a back.
[ Webster]

Backlog (băklŏg; 115), n. [Back, a. + log.] 1. A large stick of wood, forming the back of a fire on the hearth. Contrasted to forestick. [U.S.]
[ Webster]

There was first a backlog, from fifteen to four and twenty inches in diameter and five feet long, imbedded in the ashes. S. G. Goodrich.
[ Webster]

2. An accumulation (of tasks or of materials) that were not performed or processed at the normal time and require attention; as, unexpected demand led to a large backlog of unfilled orders; politically motivated delays led to a large backlog of unconfirmed judicial appointments.
[PJC]

backpack n. a bag carried on the back, supported by straps looped over the shoulders.
Syn. -- knapsack; rucksack; haversack. [WordNet 1.5]

backpack v. i. to hike while carrying a backpack; -- often used in the form go backpacking; as, to backpack through the forest.
[PJC]

backpacker n. one who backpacks; as, two backpackers were mauled by bears in Yellowstone this week.
[PJC]

backpedal v. i. 1. pedal backwards, as on a bicycle.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. step backwards, in boxing.
[WordNet 1.5]

3. modify one' opinion, usually by making it less strong or adding qualifications.
[WordNet 1.5]

{ Backpiece (�), Backplate (�), } n. [Back, n. or a. + piece, plate. ] 1. A piece, or plate which forms the back of anything, or which covers the back.
[ Webster]

2. Specifically: A piece of plate armor protecting the back; -- it is worn as part of a cuirass.
[WordNet 1.5]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z