| back-pedal |
to press backward on the pedals of a bicycle or tricycle in order to brake. [3 definitions] |
| backrest |
something against which one can rest one's back. |
| back road |
(often pl.) a country road or local road that avoids traffic as well as high speed travel. |
| backscatter |
the deflection, by electromagnetic or nuclear forces, of moving waves or particles away from their original direction at angles greater than ninety degrees. |
| backscattering |
backscatter. |
| back seat |
a seat or seating area behind other seats, esp. of a vehicle. |
| back-seat driver |
a passenger who gives unsolicited advice about driving to the driver. |
| backside |
(informal) the fleshy portion of the body upon which one sits; buttocks. [2 definitions] |
| backslide |
to revert to moral wrongdoing or sin. |
| backspace |
to move a typewriter carriage or computer cursor back one or more spaces by pressing a certain key. [2 definitions] |
| backspin |
a reverse spin put on a ball, such as a billiard or tennis ball, that causes it to stop suddenly or move in a backward direction. |
| backstage |
to or in the areas of a theater stage that are not visible to the audience, esp. the wings and dressing rooms. [4 definitions] |
| backstairs |
secret or underhanded; clandestine. |
| backstay |
a rope that extends from the mast to the stern or side of a vessel to help support the mast. |
| back-step |
a step taken backwards. [2 definitions] |
| backstop |
in sports, a structure, such as a fence or wall, used to keep a ball from going out of the playing area. [2 definitions] |
| backstreet |
a minor road somewhat distant from major thoroughfares within a town or city. [2 definitions] |
| backstretch |
the straight portion of a racetrack following the first turn. (Cf. homestretch.) |
| backstroke |
a stroke made with the back of the hand outward, as in tennis. [3 definitions] |
| backswept |
inclined or swept toward the rear. |
| backswing |
in sports, the first part of the swing of a bat, club, racket, or the like, in which it is swung toward the player's back in preparation for the forward swing. |