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{%type%} Definitions

WordNet 3.0Copyright Princeton University
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Short "hint"

The part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved; the foundation or most substantial or sturdiest part of something.

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Usage examples (35)
  • The backbone is the part of a communication network that carries the heaviest traffic
  • "Our backbone is our pitching," said third baseman Eric
  • Maria's lack of a backbone is why her performance is so terrible.
  • The peope will have to put the bone back in backbone for state leaders.
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The Open Dictionary of English is a collaborative project, based on Open Source materials, LearnThat resources, and partner APIs.
We give special thanks to our LearnThat volunteers, as well as Princeton University and Wiktionary for their Open Source word data. We're also grateful for the support given by Google, Wordnik.com, Dictionary.com, Stands4.com and YouTube, OEDILF.com, Kylescholz.com, Best-Practice.com, Forvo.com, as well as the generous Creative Commons community.