spine

• POS: Noun
• COUNT in NET: 1 in 1 verses (in OT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

spine, n. [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a point: cf. OF. espine, F. épine. Cf. Spike, Spinet a musical instrument, Spinny.].

•  A sharp appendage to any of a plant; a thorn.  [1913 Webster]
•  A rigid and sharp projection upon any part of an animal.  [1913 Webster]
•  The backbone, or spinal column, of an animal; -- so called from the projecting processes upon the vertebræ.  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything resembling the spine or backbone; a ridge.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spine, n.
1 a series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the small of the back, enclosing the spinal cord and providing support for the thorax and abdomen; the backbone.
2 Zool. & Bot. any hard pointed process or structure.
3 a sharp ridge or projection, esp. of a mountain range or slope.
4 a central feature, main support, or source of strength.
5 the part of a book's jacket or cover that encloses the page-fastening part and usu. faces outwards on a shelf.

Idiom

spine-chiller a frightening story, film, etc. spine-chilling (esp. of a story etc.) frightening.

Derivative

spined adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF espine or L spina thorn, backbone

THESAURUS

spine

advocate, alpenstock, arm, athletic supporter, back, backbone, backing, bandeau, barb, barbel, barbule, bearer, bilge, blain, bleb, blister, blob, boss, bow, bra, brace, bracer, bracket, bramble, brassiere, brier, bristle, bubble, bulb, bulge, bulla, bump, bunch, burl, burr, button, buttress, cactus, cahot, cane, carrier, catchweed, cervix, chine, cleavers, clump, col, comb, condyle, convex, corset, crook, crutch, dowel, ear, esker, flange, flap, foundation garment, fulcrum, gall, girdle, gnarl, goose grass, guy, guywire, handle, hill, hogback, horseback, hump, hunch, jock, jockstrap, jog, joggle, kame, knob, knot, knur, knurl, lip, loop, lump, mainstay, maintainer, mast, mole, mountain, neck, needle, nettle, nevus, nub, nubbin, nubble, papilloma, peg, pine needle, prickle, prong, prop, quill, rachis, ray, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, rest, resting place, rib, ridge, rigging, ring, saddle, saddleback, shoulder, shroud, spicula, spicule, spiculum, spike, spikelet, spinal column, spinal cord, sprit, spur, staff, standing rigging, stave, stay, stick, sticker, stiffener, strengthener, stud, style, support, supporter, sustainer, tab, thistle, thorn, tubercle, tubercule, upholder, verruca, vertebrae, vertebral column, vesicle, wale, walking stick, wart, welt, yucca

ROGET THESAURUS

spine

Courage

N courage, bravery, valor, resoluteness, boldness, spirit, daring, gallantry, intrepidity, contempt of danger, defiance of danger, derring-do, audacity, rashness, dash, defiance, confidence, self-reliance, manliness, manhood, nerve, pluck, mettle, game, heart, heart of grace, spunk, guts, face, virtue, hardihood, fortitude, intestinal fortitude, firmness, heart of oak, bottom, backbone, spine, resolution, bulldog courage, prowess, heroism, chivalry, exploit, feat, achievement, heroic deed, heroic act, bold stroke, man, man of mettle, hero, demigod, Amazon, Hector, lion, tiger, panther, bulldog, gamecock, fighting-cock, bully, fire eater, courageous, brave, valiant, valorous, gallant, intrepid, spirited, spiritful, high-spirited, high-mettled, mettlesome, plucky, manly, manful, resolute, stout, stout-hearted, iron-hearted, lion-hearted, heart of oak, Penthesilean, bold, bold-spirited, daring, audacious, fearless, dauntless, dreadless, aweless, undaunted, unappalled, undismayed, unawed, unblanched, unabashed, unalarmed, unflinching, unshrinking, unblanching, unapprehensive, confident, self-reliant, bold as a lion, bold as brass, enterprising, adventurous, venturous, venturesome, dashing, chivalrous, soldierly, heroic, fierce, savage, pugnacious, strong-minded, hardy, doughty, firm, determined, dogged, indomitable, up to, up to the scratch, upon one's mettle, reassured, unfeared, undreaded, one's blood being up, courage sans peur, fortes fortuna adjuvat, have I not in my time heard lions roar, I dare do all that may become a man, male vincetis sed vincite, omne solum forti patria, self-trust is the essence of heroism, stimulos dedit oemula virtus, strong and great, a hero, teloque animus proestantior omni, there, is always safety in valor, virtus ariete fortier.

Sharpness

N sharpness, acuity, acumination, spinosity, point, spike, spine, spicule, spiculum, needle, hypodermic needle, tack, nail, pin, prick, prickle, spur, rowel, barb, spit, cusp, horn, antler, snag, tag thorn, bristle, Adam's needle, bear grass, tine, yucca, nib, tooth, tusk, spoke, cog, ratchet, crag, crest, arete, cone peak, sugar loaf, pike, aiguille, spire, pyramid, steeple, beard, chevaux de frise, porcupine, hedgehog, brier, bramble, thistle, comb, awn, beggar's lice, bur, burr, catchweed, cleavers, clivers, goose, grass, hairif, hariff, flax comb, hackle, hatchel, heckle, wedge, knife edge, cutting edge, blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor, scalpel, bistoury, lancet, plowshare, coulter, colter, hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill, billhook, cleaver, cutter, scythe, sickle, scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter, sword, bodkin, belduque, bowie knife, paring knife, bushwhacker, drawing knife, drawing shave, microtome, chisel, screwdriver blade, flint blade, guillotine, sharpener, hone, strop, grindstone, whetstone, novaculite, steel, emery, sharp, keen, acute, acicular, aciform, aculeated, acuminated, pointed, tapering, conical, pyramidal, mucronate, mucronated, spindle shaped, needle shaped, spiked, spiky, ensiform, peaked, salient, cusped, cuspidate, cuspidated, cornute, cornuted, cornicultate, prickly, spiny, spinous, spicular, thorny, bristling, muricated, pectinated, studded, thistly, briary, craggy, snaggy, digitated, two-edged, fusiform, dentiform, denticulated, toothed, odontoid, starlike, stellated, stelliform, sagittate, sagittiform, arrowheaded, arrowy, barbed, spurred, acinaciform, apiculate, apiculated, aristate, awned, awny, bearded, calamiform, cone-shaped, coniform, crestate, echinate, gladiate, lanceolate, lanciform, awl, awl-shaped, lance-shaped, awl- shaped, scimitar-shaped, sword-shaped, setarious, spinuliferous, subulate, tetrahedral, xiphoid, cutting, sharp edged, knife edged, sharp as a razor, keen as a razor, sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack, sharpened, set.