1
a
b
: something resembling a spinal column or constituting a central axis or chief support
c
: the part of a book to which the pages are attached and on the cover of which usually appear the title and author's and publisher's names
2
: a stiff pointed plant process
especially
: one that is a modified leaf or leaf part compare prickle sense 1, thorn sense 1a
3
: a sharp rigid process on an animal: such as
a
: spicule
b
: a stiff unsegmented fin ray of a fish
c
: a pointed prominence on a bone
Examples of spine in a Sentence
This X-ray shows her spine.
Hedgehogs are covered with spines.
They lack the spine to do what needs to be done.
Recent Examples on the Web
The sequence alone was enough to send chills down the spine of any Game of Thrones fan, as Daemon somersaulted through time — guided by the three-eyed raven — and saw the White Walkers, the end of dragons, and the rise of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) more than 200 years in the future.
—
Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2024
That spine in the window didn’t continue in later models because it was poorly received by the public at the time, though it was widely lauded by car designers.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2024
That tension between the public and the personal, between the dreck and the art, is the spine of the film.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2024
Taylor’s many marriages, and the way she was portrayed by the media, forms the spine of Burstein’s film.
—Marisa Guthrie, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spine 
Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2024
That spine in the window didn’t continue in later models because it was poorly received by the public at the time, though it was widely lauded by car designers.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2024
That tension between the public and the personal, between the dreck and the art, is the spine of the film.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2024
Taylor’s many marriages, and the way she was portrayed by the media, forms the spine of Burstein’s film.
—Marisa Guthrie, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spine
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Spine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spine. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spine
noun1
a
b
: something resembling a backbone
c
: the part of a book to which the pages are attached
2
: a stiff pointed usually sharp projecting part of a plant or animal
protective spines cover the body of a porcupine fish
cactus spines are formed from leaves
Etymology
Middle English spine "thorn, spinal column," from Latin spina (same meaning) — related to porcupine
Medical Definition
spine
noun1
2
: a pointed prominence or process (as on a bone)
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