Spine
noun
The flexible pillar of bones in your back that helps you stand up straight.
He damaged his spine in a car accident.
Often appears as...
- spinal injury
- spinal column
noun
A stiff, pointed part sticking out of a plant or animal.
The cactus was covered in sharp spines.
Often appears as...
- plant spine
- fish spine
noun
The bound edge of a book where the pages are glued together.
The title of the book was written on the spine.
Often appears as...
- book spine
- spine title
noun
The strength and courage to carry on in the face of difficulty.
She showed a lot of spine when she stood up to the bully.
Often appears as...
- show some spine
- need a spine
Usage tips
Approving
Idiomatic
noun
The flexible pillar of bones in your back that helps you stand up straight.
He damaged his spine in a car accident.
Often appears as...
- spinal injury
- spinal column
noun
A stiff, pointed part sticking out of a plant or animal.
The cactus was covered in sharp spines.
Often appears as...
- plant spine
- fish spine
noun
The bound edge of a book where the pages are glued together.
The title of the book was written on the spine.
Often appears as...
- book spine
- spine title
noun
The strength and courage to carry on in the face of difficulty.
She showed a lot of spine when she stood up to the bully.
Often appears as...
- show some spine
- need a spine
Usage tips
Approving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Human Structure
Refers to the series of bones from skull to tailbone supporting the body.
Medical students study the human spine extensively.
Pro Tip 2/3Spinal Importance
Used to stress critical support like the spine does for the body.
A reliable goalkeeper is the spine of a great soccer team.
Pro Tip 3/3Medical Context
Often used in health and injury discussions.
The gymnast is recovering from a spine surgery.
Pro Tip 1/3Human Structure
Refers to the series of bones from skull to tailbone supporting the body.
Medical students study the human spine extensively.
Pro Tip 2/3Spinal Importance
Used to stress critical support like the spine does for the body.
A reliable goalkeeper is the spine of a great soccer team.
Pro Tip 3/3Medical Context
Often used in health and injury discussions.
The gymnast is recovering from a spine surgery.
Pro Tip 1/3Human Structure
Refers to the series of bones from skull to tailbone supporting the body.
Medical students study the human spine extensively.
Pro Tip 2/3Spinal Importance
Used to stress critical support like the spine does for the body.
A reliable goalkeeper is the spine of a great soccer team.
Pro Tip 3/3Medical Context
Often used in health and injury discussions.
The gymnast is recovering from a spine surgery.
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Video examples
Deep Sea Anglerfish Sex...
Very delicate it's got those amazing teeth here and then look, what I'm going is, I'm going to hold it up to the camera so we can get a better view of it. So firstly, here's the top view and you can see those extraordinary teeth. Yeah. Like that but then, look, if I hold it sideways, you might just be able to see that little spine sticking out the top of its head. That's where the lure was. It's called the elysium. The elysium. Wow It's amazing isn't and the size of their mouth is amazing. I never knew this, but they can swallow prey that's double the size that they are, which is remarkable Yeah. and this has to be said, this is a female and this brings me to my next revelation. Well, hold on. Hold on, hold on a moment.
Video examples
Your calls are being...
by governments in the West and increasingly and everywhere in the world to spine the communications of their own citizens and to spy on the communications of people in other countries for intelligence operations but these devices have been expensive usually somewhere in the ballpark of 50
Video examples
Octopus Kills Shark PIPE...
what does happen when you put these sharks and octopi in the same tank and you're about to see it too if you've got the courage to keep watching if only through your splayed fingers the octopus not in the habit of attacking sharks the shark sharp spines jutting out from its
Video examples
Smash fear, learn...
And you can see that he's extending his right arm below his head and far in front. And so his entire body really is underwater. The arm is extended below the head. The head is held in line with the spine, so that you use strategic water pressure to raise your legs up --
Video examples
The evolution of the...
And while today's mass produced cover illustrations are marketing tools, the cover designs of early books were made to order. Even spines have a history. Initially, they were not considered aesthetically important, and the earliest ones were flat, rather than rounded.
Video examples
The amazing ways plants...
and highly impermeable to pathogens. Leaves are protected by a waxy cuticle that deters insects and microbes. Some plants go a step further with painful structures to warn would-be predators. Thorns, spines, and prickles discourage bigger herbivores.
Video examples
The benefits of good...
and so can using computers or mobile devices, which encourage you to look downward. Many studies suggest that, on average, posture is getting worse. So what does good posture look like? When you look at the spine from the front or the back,
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
but now after a week the bristles are already beginning to thicken into a tiny spines we had to go to their main laboratories in the capital tanner narev and there i was privileged to see one of the most remarkable creatures in the world
Video examples
Birds Feast on Bee Swarm...
Gila woodpeckers nest in holes they've drilled in the trunks of giant cacti. Cactus wrens and thrashers like to build their nests among as many spines as possible to protect their chicks.
Video examples
Titan Triggerfish...
a sea urchin spines are no protection against teeth like these
Video examples
Deep Sea Anglerfish Sex...
Very delicate it's got those amazing teeth here and then look, what I'm going is, I'm going to hold it up to the camera so we can get a better view of it. So firstly, here's the top view and you can see those extraordinary teeth. Yeah. Like that but then, look, if I hold it sideways, you might just be able to see that little spine sticking out the top of its head. That's where the lure was. It's called the elysium. The elysium. Wow It's amazing isn't and the size of their mouth is amazing. I never knew this, but they can swallow prey that's double the size that they are, which is remarkable Yeah. and this has to be said, this is a female and this brings me to my next revelation. Well, hold on. Hold on, hold on a moment.
Video examples
Your calls are being...
by governments in the West and increasingly and everywhere in the world to spine the communications of their own citizens and to spy on the communications of people in other countries for intelligence operations but these devices have been expensive usually somewhere in the ballpark of 50
Video examples
Octopus Kills Shark PIPE...
what does happen when you put these sharks and octopi in the same tank and you're about to see it too if you've got the courage to keep watching if only through your splayed fingers the octopus not in the habit of attacking sharks the shark sharp spines jutting out from its
Video examples
Smash fear, learn...
And you can see that he's extending his right arm below his head and far in front. And so his entire body really is underwater. The arm is extended below the head. The head is held in line with the spine, so that you use strategic water pressure to raise your legs up --
Video examples
The evolution of the...
And while today's mass produced cover illustrations are marketing tools, the cover designs of early books were made to order. Even spines have a history. Initially, they were not considered aesthetically important, and the earliest ones were flat, rather than rounded.
Video examples
The amazing ways plants...
and highly impermeable to pathogens. Leaves are protected by a waxy cuticle that deters insects and microbes. Some plants go a step further with painful structures to warn would-be predators. Thorns, spines, and prickles discourage bigger herbivores.
Video examples
The benefits of good...
and so can using computers or mobile devices, which encourage you to look downward. Many studies suggest that, on average, posture is getting worse. So what does good posture look like? When you look at the spine from the front or the back,
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
but now after a week the bristles are already beginning to thicken into a tiny spines we had to go to their main laboratories in the capital tanner narev and there i was privileged to see one of the most remarkable creatures in the world
Video examples
Birds Feast on Bee Swarm...
Gila woodpeckers nest in holes they've drilled in the trunks of giant cacti. Cactus wrens and thrashers like to build their nests among as many spines as possible to protect their chicks.
Video examples
Titan Triggerfish...
a sea urchin spines are no protection against teeth like these
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Nigel Cole
British Director
It seems to me that romantic comedies used to be about falling in love, but in recent years they've really become just comedies where the love story is only there as a spine to hang the jokes on.
Quote examples
John Rampton
American Businessman
There was a time when just the thought of waking up before the sun rose sent chills down my spine. But once I actually started getting out of bed earlier, I noticed that it wasn't all that bad.
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
The spine of the FBI is the rule of law. The spine of the FBI is a commitment to doing the right thing, in the right way, while protecting civil liberties.
Quote examples
Nick Hornby
English Writer
Lots of times when I'm offered things, I can't see how a story gets filmed. Either it's too internal or it doesn't have a strong spine.
Quote examples
Peter Gabriel
English Musician
I think the rhythm is like the spine of the piece. If you change that, then the body that forms around it is changed as well.
Quote examples
Conor Oberst
American Musician
I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine the rest of my life.
Quote examples
Paula Cole
American Musician
I like women who can throw a ball and laugh loud and have some spine, and I like men who don't mind cooking dinner.
Quote examples
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Austrian Coach
We are all ambitious but important for me first is to have a stable spine to the team.
Quote examples
Lily James
English Actress
The famous pilot season literally sends shivers down my spine.
Quote examples
Tess Daly
English Model
I've got a long spine, so I've got to work on my core.
Quote examples
Nigel Cole
British Director
It seems to me that romantic comedies used to be about falling in love, but in recent years they've really become just comedies where the love story is only there as a spine to hang the jokes on.
Quote examples
John Rampton
American Businessman
There was a time when just the thought of waking up before the sun rose sent chills down my spine. But once I actually started getting out of bed earlier, I noticed that it wasn't all that bad.
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
The spine of the FBI is the rule of law. The spine of the FBI is a commitment to doing the right thing, in the right way, while protecting civil liberties.
Quote examples
Nick Hornby
English Writer
Lots of times when I'm offered things, I can't see how a story gets filmed. Either it's too internal or it doesn't have a strong spine.
Quote examples
Peter Gabriel
English Musician
I think the rhythm is like the spine of the piece. If you change that, then the body that forms around it is changed as well.
Quote examples
Conor Oberst
American Musician
I've cried, and you'd think I'd be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine the rest of my life.
Quote examples
Paula Cole
American Musician
I like women who can throw a ball and laugh loud and have some spine, and I like men who don't mind cooking dinner.
Quote examples
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Austrian Coach
We are all ambitious but important for me first is to have a stable spine to the team.
Quote examples
Lily James
English Actress
The famous pilot season literally sends shivers down my spine.
Quote examples
Tess Daly
English Model
I've got a long spine, so I've got to work on my core.
Example 1 of 10
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