backbone

/BrE ˈbakbəʊn

, AmE ˈbækˌboʊn

noun

1 [countable] (spine) (of person, animal) 脊柱; (of fish) 脊骨

2 [countable] (central ridge) 主山脊

3 [countable] US (of book) 书脊

4 [countable] figurative (strong feature) 支柱;

to be the backbone of … 是…的中坚／基础

5 [uncountable] figurative (courage) 胆量; (perseverance) 毅力;

to have the backbone to do sth 有胆量做某事

6 [countable] Computing 网络中枢