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What is the difference between spine and backbone?

spine | backbone |

Backbone is a synonym of spine.



As nouns the difference between spine and backbone

is that spine is the series of bones situated at the back from the head to the pelvis of a person, or from the head to the tail of an animal; backbone, vertebral column while 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.

spine

English

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Noun

(en noun)
  • The series of bones situated at the back from the head to the pelvis of a person, or from the head to the tail of an animal; backbone, vertebral column.
  • * 1851 , (Herman Melville), (Moby-Dick) , :
    • If you attentively regard almost any quadruped's spine , you will be struck with the resemblance of its vertebrae to a strung necklace of dwarfed skulls.
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  • Something resembling a backbone, such as a ridge, or a long, central structure from which other structures radiate.
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  • # The narrow, bound edge of a book.
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  • A rigid, pointed surface protuberance or needle-like structure on an animal, shell, or plant.
  • * 1871 , (Charles Darwin), (w) , :
    • The male, as Dr. Gunther informs me, has a cluster of stiff, straight spines , like those of a comb, on the sides of the tail.
  • (figurative) Courage or assertiveness.
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    • Derived terms

    * send shivers down someone's spine * spina bifida * spinal * spinal canal * spinal column * spinal cord * spine board * spineless * spiniferous * spinose * spinous * spiny

    Anagrams

    *

    External links

    * ----

    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