spine

/spaɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /spaɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈspīn/ (ame, mw)

spine — noun

  • spinesingular
  • spinesplural

1. the connected set of bones that extends from the base of the skull to the lower

1.名詞B1
釋義

the connected set of bones that extends from the base of the skull to the lower back, forming a central column that supports the body and encloses the spinal cord

例句

Amihan injured her spine in a car accident last year.

The doctor looked at the X-ray of Lan's spine and found no damage.

collocation: spine X-ray / doctor examines spine

同義詞
  • backbone

    less formal, used in everyday speech and figuratively

  • spinal column

    fully medical term, less common in casual conversation

用法筆記

Many everyday phrases use back instead of spine (e.g., back pain, back injury), but spine is the standard medical and anatomical term.

常見錯誤

❌My spine hurts when I bend.
✅My back hurts when I bend.
💡For general aches, back is more natural; spine is clinical and refers specifically to the bone column.

2. a stiff, pointed growth that sticks out of the skin or surface of some animals a

2.名詞B2
釋義

a stiff, pointed growth that sticks out of the skin or surface of some animals and plants, serving as a defence against threats

例句

Felix touched the cactus and a spine got stuck in his finger.

collocation: cactus spine / spine stuck in finger

A hedgehog curls into a ball so that its spines point out in every direction.

collocation: hedgehog spines / spines point outward

同義詞
  • thorn

    used mainly for plants, particularly roses; softer connotation

  • quill

    specifically for porcupines; longer and hollow

用法筆記

Spine in this sense is close in meaning to thorn, but spine is stiffer and often refers to structures on animals (hedgehog, porcupine) as well as plants. Thorn typically refers only to plants.

常見錯誤

❌A rose has many spines.
✅A rose has many thorns.
💡Thin, sharp outgrowths on rose stems are called thorns in everyday English; spine is more common for cacti and animals.

3. the narrow outer edge where a book's front cover meets its back cover, holding t

3.名詞B1
釋義

the narrow outer edge where a book's front cover meets its back cover, holding the pages together and typically displaying the title on its surface

例句

Renata read the title on the book spine to find it on the shelf.

collocation: title on the spine

The librarian carefully repaired the torn spine of an old novel.

同義詞
  • book back

    much less common; most English speakers say spine