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⇱ spine - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


spine

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈspaɪn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/spaɪn/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(spīn)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
spine /spaɪn/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. Anatomy[countable] the backbone;
    spinal column.
  2. Botany[countable]
    • a hard, sharp-pointed outgrowth on a plant;
      thorn.
    • a stiff-pointed bone or part of a bodily structure of an animal, such as the quill of a porcupine.
  3. [uncountable] courage;
    mettle.
  4. Printing[countable] the back of a book binding, usually indicating the title and author.
spin•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est:I stuck my finger on one of the fish's spiny fins.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
spine  (spīn),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Anatomy, Zoologythe spinal or vertebral column;
    backbone.
  2. Anatomy, Zoologyany backbonelike part.
  3. Zoologya 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. Botanya sharp-pointed, hard or woody outgrowth on a plant;
    thorn.
  7. Printing[Bookbinding.]the back of a book cover or binding, usually indicating the title and author.
  • Latin spīna thorn, backbone
  • late Middle English 1400–50
spined, adj. 
spinelike′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
spine /spaɪn/ n
  1. the spinal column
  2. the sharply pointed tip or outgrowth of a leaf, stem, etc
  3. 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, 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
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French espine spine, from Latin spīna thorn, backbonespined adj
'spine' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a spine-tingling [experience, massage], a spine-breaking [fall, crash], broke his spine, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "spine" in the title:

......... thoracic spine the spinal cord thickens.
(Feel / send) (shivers / a shiver) down one's spine
a guard prodded a <spine>
at the level 2 spine
Chill up my spine
Don't spine
Everything but the spine
Feel it down your spine
grow a spine
have spine rehabilitation / rehabilitation of spine
I could feel the blood pulsing in my neck, sweat at the base of my spine, the sickening rush of adre
I fell, hit my spine against...
It makes your spine tingle...
just so you could step on my spine - I'm gonna get mine [meaning]
Medical term (spine)
Molluscs branched off to form their own lineage before any organism had a spine
My face is hot, there is cold sweat under my armpits and at the base of my spine
old spine flower, wise noodle, smart pudding mean.
Opens and mobilizes the thoracic spine
posture (will) causes your spine
Send chills up or down the spine?
send shivers down my spine
spinal / spine problems ?
spine
Spine as mental strength
Spine breaking ..
spine building
spine of rock
Spine or spines?
Spine tingling stuff
more...

Look up "spine" at Merriam-Webster
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