—back /bæk/
adjective [before noun] (PAID LATER)
► F0 paid after the end of a period of time when it should have been paid: » They owe the staff several thousand in back pay.» back rent/taxesadjective [before noun] (POSITION)
► F0 at or near the back of something: » She left the house by the back door.» The back seat of the car folds down.Thesaurus+: ↑General location and orientation• • •
Extra Examples:» It says on the back cover of the book 'highly commended'.» She skidded off the road when her back wheels hit an icy patch.» They sat in the back row of the cinema kissing and cuddling.» Let's take our drinks out into the back garden.» Apparently one of her back teeth is very sore.adverb (FURTHER AWAY)
► B2 further away in distance: » If we push the table back against the wall, we'll have more room.» "Keep back!" he shouted, "Don't come any closer!"» He sat back on the sofa.» She threw back her head and laughed uproariously.» The house is set back from the road.Thesaurus+: ↑Backwards, sideways and back and forth• • •
Extra Examples:» Please stand back - then all of you will be able to see what I'm doing.» The line of traffic stretched back several miles.» Could you stand back from these shelves and tell me if they're level?» Our house is set back from the road.» As the body was carried through the crowd, people drew back respectfully .adverb (RETURN)
B2 in, into, or towards a previous place or condition, or an earlier time:
» When you take the scissors, remember to put them back.» He left a note saying "Gone out. Back soon."» She went to America for two years, but now she's back (= has returned).» He looked back (= looked behind him) and saw they were following him.» Looking at her old photographs brought back (= made her remember) a lot of memories.» I was woken by a thunderstorm, and I couldn't get back to sleep (= could not sleep again).» The last time we saw Lowell was back (= at an earlier time) in January.» This tradition dates back to (= to the earlier time of) the 16th century.Thesaurus+: ↑Backwards, sideways and back and forthA2 in return:
» If he hits me, I'll hit him back.» You're not just going to let her say those things about you without fighting back, are you?Thesaurus+: ↑Revenge and vengefulnessA2 in reply:
» I'm busy at the moment - can I call you back?» I wrote to Donna several months ago, but she hasn't written back yet.Thesaurus+: ↑Answering and responding• • •
Extra Examples:» After the trip, it was nice getting back to a few home comforts.» She thinks he'll come back, but she's deceiving herself.» That's enough, Peter. Give those toys back, please.» I think I locked the door but I'll go back and check just to make sure.» When I look back I can see where we went wrong.» Will you put the books back when you've finished with them?noun [C] (BODY PART)
► A2 the part of your body that is opposite to the front, from your shoulders to your bottom: » I've got a bad back.» Sleeping on a bed that is too soft can be bad for your back.» He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.» I turned my back (= turned round so that I could not see) while she dressed.» She put her back out (= caused a serious injury to her back) lifting a box.See picture: 
See picture: back
Thesaurus+: ↑The human torso
• • •
Extra Examples:» The dog rolled over onto its back.» I pulled a muscle in my back lifting some drawers.» I go to sleep on my back but I always wake up in a different position.» Our dog has a black patch on his back.» I've got a pain in my lower back.noun [C] (FURTHEST PART)
A2 the inside or outside part of an object, vehicle, building, etc. that is furthest from the front:
» He jotted her name down on the back of an envelope.» I found my tennis racket at the back of the cupboard.» We sat at the back of the bus.» Our seats were right at the back of the hall.» Ted was out/round the back (US out back) (= in the area behind the house)."» There is a beautiful garden at the back of (US ALSO in back of) (= behind) the house.» If there's no reply at the front door, come round the back.» He put his jacket on the back of his chair (= the part of the chair that you put your back against when you sit on it).Thesaurus+: ↑Surfaces of objects , ↑Edges and extremities of objectsback to backF0 close together and facing in opposite directions:
» The office was full of computers, and we had to sit back to back in long rows.Thesaurus+: ↑Closeness in distance and time , ↑About to happenThesaurus+: ↑Simultaneous and consecutive , ↑Order and sequenceF0 happening one after another, without interruption:
» Coming up after the break, three Rolling Stones classics back to back.→ SEE ALSO BACK-TO-BACK(Cf. ↑back-to-back)Thesaurus+: ↑Closeness in distance and time , ↑About to happenThesaurus+: ↑Simultaneous and consecutive , ↑Order and sequenceback to front C2 UK (US backwards)F0 with the back part of something where the front should be:
» You've put your jumper on back to front.Thesaurus+: ↑Backwards, sideways and back and forththe back of your handF0 the side of your hand that has hair growing on it
Thesaurus+: ↑The hand• • •
Extra Examples:» I always keep a tool set in the back of my car.» She lay on the grass and the stiff dry grass prickled the back of her legs.» The previous owner of the house had built an extension on the back.» I found her kneeling in prayer at the back of the church.» The keyboard plugs in at the back of the computer.noun [C] (SPORT)
► F0 (in some sports, such as football) one of the players in a team who try to stop players from the other team from scoring goals, rather than trying to score goals themselves→ COMPARE FORWARD(Cf. ↑forward) nounThesaurus+: ↑Football/soccer , ↑General terms used in ball sportsThesaurus+: ↑Competitors and participants in sports and gamesverb (RISK MONEY) ↑Verb Endings for back
► F0 to risk money by saying that you think a horse, team, etc. will win a race, game, or competition in order to win more money if they do: » The horse I backed came in last.verb [I or T, + adv/prep] (MOVE AWAY) ↑Verb Endings for back
► C2 to (cause to) move backwards: » Ann gave up driving when she backed the car into the garage door.» Please could you back your car up a few feet so that I can get mine out of the driveway?Thesaurus+: ↑Driving and operating road vehiclesverb [T] (COVER) ↑Verb Endings for back
► F0 to cover the back of something with a material, often to make it stronger or thicker: » The material is backed with a heavy lining.Thesaurus+: ↑Knitting and sewingverb [T] (SUPPORT) ↑Verb Endings for back
► C2 to give support to someone or something with money or words: » The management has refused to back our proposals.Thesaurus+: ↑Backing, supporting and defending , ↑Defending and protectingThesaurus+: ↑Investing money• • •
Extra Examples:» This theory needs to be backed up with solid empirical evidence.» The troops were backed by tanks, artillery, and other heavy armour.» It is hoped that all sides will back the peace plan.» A poll indicated that 77 percent of Americans backed the president's plan, with only 6 percent in opposition.» Although Paris backs the U.N. demands, it has made it clear it will not take part in any new military action.