backbone — ODE

backbone /ˈbakbəʊn

▸ noun

1 the series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the pelvis; the spine:

prickles of sweat broke out along her backbone

the great Pennine range is the backbone of England figurative.

▪ US English the spine of a book.

▪ Biochemistry the main chain of a polymeric molecule.

2 the chief support of a system or organization:

these firms are the backbone of our industrial sector.

▪ [mass noun] strength of character:

he has enough backbone to see us through this difficulty.

3 Computing Telecommunications a high-speed, high-capacity digital connection which forms the axis of a local or wide area network.