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Backbone vs Basis - What's the difference?

backbone | basis | Synonyms |

Backbone is a synonym of basis.


As nouns the difference between backbone and basis

is that backbone is 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 while basis is basis.

backbone

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • 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.
  • any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure
    • Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce.
  • courage, fortitude, or strength
    • He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone .

    Synonyms

    * spine * spinal column * vertebral column * See also

    basis

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A starting point, base or foundation for an argument or hypothesis.
  • An underlying condition or circumstance.
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Danny Welbeck leads England's rout of Moldova but hit by Ukraine ban'' (in ''The Guardian , 6 September 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/06/england-moldova-world-cup-qualifier-matchreport]
    • Hodgson may now have to bring in James Milner on the left and, on that basis , a certain amount of gloss was taken off a night on which Welbeck scored twice but barely celebrated either before leaving the pitch angrily complaining to the Slovakian referee.
  • regular frequency
    • You should brush your teeth on a daily basis at minimum.
    The flights to Fiji leave on a weekly basis .
    Cars must be checked on a yearly basis .
  • (linear algebra) In a vector space, a linearly independent set of vectors spanning the whole vector space.
  • (accounting) Amount paid for an investment, including commissions and other expenses.
  • (topology) A collection of subsets ("basis elements") of a set, such that this collection covers the set, and for any two basis elements which both contain an element of the set, there is a third basis element contained in the intersection of the first two, which also contains that element.

    • Usage notes

    * The construction "on a daily/weekly/etc. basis" is usually an unnecessarily-wordy substitute for simply "daily/weekly/etc."

    Derived terms

    * basis point (4) * tax basis * fare basis * cost basis * basic

    Synonyms

    * (starting point for discussion) base

    References

    Anagrams

    * * English nouns with irregular plurals ----