Spine

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spine \Spine\, n. [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a
     point: cf. OF. espine, F. ['e]pine. Cf. {Spike}, {Spinet} a
     musical instrument, {Spinny}.]
     1. (Bot.) A sharp appendage to any of a plant; a thorn.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Zool.)
        (a) A rigid and sharp projection upon any part of an
            animal.
        (b) One of the rigid and undivided fin rays of a fish.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Anat.) The backbone, or spinal column, of an animal; --
        so called from the projecting processes upon the
        vertebrae.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Anything resembling the spine or backbone; a ridge.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spine
       n 1: the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and
            protecting the spinal cord; "the fall broke his back"
            [syn: {spinal column}, {vertebral column}, {backbone}, {back},
             {rachis}]
       2: any pointed projection [syn: {spur}]
       3: a sharp-pointed tip on a stem or leaf [syn: {thorn}, {prickle},
           {pricker}, {sticker}]
       4: a sharp rigid animal process or appendage; as a porcupine
          quill or a ridge on a bone or a ray of a fish fin

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  155 Moby Thesaurus words for "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