spine
gb/spˈaɪn/ us/spˈaɪn/
B1
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
backbone made of vertebrae
The line of bones in the middle of your back that helps you stand and move.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s spine; the spine of [an animal]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'bone of the back' instead of 'spine' or 'backbone'. Also, they may confuse 'spine' with 'back', but 'back' means the whole area, while 'spine' is the line of bones inside the back.
Synonyms
backbone (Almost exact synonym in anatomy; slightly more common in everyday speech and also widely used figuratively.)
Antonyms
front (Refers to the opposite side of the body from the spine, emphasizing the contrast between back and front.)
Collocations
injure your spine
|curved spine
|spinal cord and spine
|base of the spine
|straighten your spine
|damage to the spine
Themes
body
|health
|anatomy
|animals
Examples
- The accident left him with a serious injury to his spine.
- Good posture helps keep your spine healthy and flexible.
- The doctor showed her an X-ray of her spine to explain the pain.
- A long shiver ran up his spine as he stepped into the cold water.
- She twisted her spine while lifting the heavy box.
Learner examples
- He hurt his spine in a car crash.
- Your spine supports your head and body.
- She has pain in the lower part of her spine.
- The doctor checked his spine after the fall.
- Yoga can help you keep your spine strong.
Noun
B2
property
2
courage and moral strength
The courage to say what you think and to do what you believe is right, even when it is hard.
Usage pattern:
have (no) spine; show some spine; the spine to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes translate directly from their own language and say 'strong heart' or 'strong soul' when English would use 'spine' or 'backbone'. Also, 'spined' is not used for people; say 'he has no spine', not 'he is spine-less' in everyday speech (use 'spineless').
Synonyms
backbone (Very close in meaning; 'backbone' is slightly more common in this figurative sense, especially in phrases like 'show some backbone'.)
Antonyms
cowardice (Names the lack of courage and firmness that 'spine' refers to in this figurative sense.)
Collocations
have no spine
|grow a spine
|show some spine
|political spine
|moral spine
|the spine to stand up to [someone]
Themes
emotions
|character
|social
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The mayor finally showed some spine and refused to change her decision.
- He has no spine when it comes to standing up to his boss.
- The team needs a captain with enough spine to make tough calls.
- Activists praised her for having the spine to speak out against corruption.
- It's time for the committee to grow a spine and say no.
Learner examples
- He has no spine and agrees with everyone.
- She showed real spine when she said no to her manager.
- You need spine to tell the truth in that meeting.
- The leader of the group lost his job, but he kept his spine.
- They want a president with more spine.
Noun
B2
entity
3
central supporting line or ridge
The long middle part of something that holds it together or is its main support.
Usage pattern:
the spine of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'center' or 'middle' and not realize that 'spine' also suggests support or structure, not just location. In formal writing about systems or cities, 'spine' often sounds more technical than simply 'middle'.
Synonyms
backbone (Very similar metaphor, especially for organizations or systems; 'backbone' is slightly more common for abstract systems, 'spine' leans a bit more physical or spatial.)
Antonyms
periphery (Refers to the outer edges, contrasting with the central supporting 'spine'.)
Collocations
spine of the mountain range
|spine of the team
|spine of the network
|transport spine
|urban spine
|spine road
Themes
geography
|construction
|organization
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A narrow road runs along the spine of the island.
- The new rail line will form the spine of the region's transport system.
- This avenue is the commercial spine of the city.
- Strong central defenders are the spine of the team.
- The old canal once acted as the industrial spine of the area.
Learner examples
- A long street is the spine of the town.
- The main road is the transport spine of the area.
- This river is the natural spine of the country.
- Tall trees mark the spine of the hill.
- The central line of stations is the spine of the subway system.
Noun
B1
entity
4
narrow bound edge of a book
The thin side of a book that you see on a shelf, where the pages are joined and the title is written.
Usage pattern:
the spine of [a book]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call this part of the book the 'side' or 'back'. In English, the 'spine' is the thin edge where the pages are joined, and the 'cover' is the flat front or back.
Synonyms
binding (Refers to the whole material that holds the book together, not just the narrow edge where the title appears.)
Antonyms
page (A page is one flat sheet inside the book, contrasting with the outer edge where the pages are joined.)
Collocations
book spine
|cracked spine
|broken spine
|title on the spine
|thick spine
|line up on the spine
Themes
books
|media
|education
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The title on the spine was too small to read from a distance.
- He cracked the spine of the new book when he opened it too wide.
- Old paperbacks often have broken spines and loose pages.
- She arranged her books so the colorful spines faced outward.
- The library labels each spine with a small sticker.
Learner examples
- The book's title is on the spine.
- Do not bend the spine of my book.
- Old books sometimes have a broken spine.
- I saw the name of the author on the spine.
- He put the books on the shelf with the spines out.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
5
sharp pointed projection or thorn
A long, thin, sharp point that comes out from a plant, animal, or object.
Usage pattern:
spines on [something]; a sharp spine
Common mistake:
Learners often call all sharp points on plants 'thorns'. In more careful or scientific English, some are specifically called 'spines'. Also, do not confuse this with the 'spine' in your back; context is important.
Synonyms
thorn (Commonly used for sharp points on plants; 'spine' is more technical in biology and also used for some animals.)
Antonyms
smooth surface (Describes a surface without sharp points, the opposite of one covered in spines.)
Collocations
cactus spines
|sea urchin spines
|porcupine spines
|sharp spines
|protective spines
|covered in spines
Themes
nature
|animals
|plants
Examples
- The cactus is covered in long, sharp spines.
- Sea urchins use their spines for protection.
- Be careful; the fish has venomous spines on its fins.
- The plant's hard spines stop animals from eating it.
- Scientists studied the growth of spines on young hedgehogs.
Learner examples
- The cactus has many spines.
- I hurt my hand on the sharp spine.
- The animal uses its spines to stay safe.
- Sea urchins have long spines on their bodies.
- This plant has small, hard spines on the stem.
Grammar
Dictionary form
spine
IPA
GB/spˈaɪn/
US/spˈaɪn/
Syllables & stress
spine (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (spine)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: spine
- Plural: spines
Word family
Forms
spines
noun
Core family
spinal
adjective B2
Related words
spiny
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
spineless
adjective
Advanced or less common
spinelessness
noun
Expressions
break the spine of something
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə spˈaɪn əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
destroy the main strength
To destroy or greatly weaken the main power or strength of something.
Examples
- The new law aims to break the spine of organized crime.
- Their victory broke the spine of the opposition movement.
grow a spine
1/ɡɹˈoʊ ə spˈaɪn/
idiom
informal
become braver and more firm
To start being braver and more ready to say what you think or to say no.
Examples
- It's time for the board to grow a spine and reject the plan.
- He finally grew a spine and complained about the unfair rules.
have no spine
1/hˈæv nˈoʊ spˈaɪn/
idiom
informal
be weak or cowardly
To be too weak or afraid to stand up for yourself or for what is right.
Examples
- The manager has no spine and always agrees with the owner.
- They say the party has no spine on this issue.
make someone's spine tingle
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌnz spˈaɪn tˈɪŋɡəl/
idiom
cause a strong tingling emotion
To give someone a strong feeling of fear, pleasure, or excitement, often as a physical tingling feeling.
Examples
- The singer's high note made my spine tingle.
- The dark, empty house made his spine tingle with fear.
- Her words made his spine tingle with excitement.
put some spine into something
1/pˈʊt sˈʌm spˈaɪn ˈɪntu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
add energy or courage
To make something stronger, more active, or more brave.
Examples
- The new coach put some spine into the team.
- We need to put some spine into our campaign.
send shivers down someone's spine
1/sˈɛnd ʃˈɪvɚz dˈaʊn sˈʌmwˌʌnz spˈaɪn/
idiom
cause sudden fear or excitement
To make someone suddenly feel very afraid or very excited.
Examples
- The sound of his voice sent shivers down her spine.
- The horror movie trailer sent shivers down my spine.
- The national anthem always sends shivers down his spine.
spine-chilling
1/spˈaɪn t͡ʃˈɪlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
extremely frightening
Very frightening; making you feel strong fear.
Examples
- They told a spine-chilling story about the old house.
- The movie is full of spine-chilling scenes.
spine-tingling
1/spˈaɪn tˈɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
extremely exciting or scary
Very exciting or very scary in a way that gives you a strong physical feeling.
Examples
- The team won in a spine-tingling final minute.
- We listened in silence to her spine-tingling tale.
the spine of something
1/ðə spˈaɪn əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
main central support part
The most important central part of something that supports the rest.
Examples
- These three players are the spine of the team.
- The highway is the spine of the region's transport network.