backboneとは意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• (英国発音) IPA^(key): /ˈbækˌbəʊn/
• (米国発音) IPA^(key): /ˈbækˌboʊn/
• 韻: -ækbəʊn, -ækboʊn

名詞

backbone (countable かつ uncountable, 複数形 backbones)

1. The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
2. (figuratively) Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.

   Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.

   • 1959 April, P. Ransome-Wallis, “The Southern in Trouble on the Kent Coast”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, ISSN 0141-9935, OCLC 35845948, page 212:

     With little regular employment available in East Kent the backbone of the Kent Coast passenger traffic is therefore the commuters, the not inconsiderable numbers of people who travel each day to their work in Faversham, Sittingbourne, the Medway Towns and most of all, London.

3. (figuratively) Courage, fortitude, or strength.

   He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone.

   • 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], OCLC 1042815524, part I, page 207:

     His appearance was certainly that of a hairdresser's dummy; but in the great demoralization of the land he kept up his appearance. That's backbone. His starched collars and got-up shirt-fronts were achievements of character. He had been out nearly three years; and, later, I could not help asking him how he managed to sport such linen.

同意語

• spine
• spinal column
• vertebral column
• See also Thesaurus:backbone

派生語