■ adj. secret or dishonest f ^1^; 4* £tfJ: backstairs

deals between politicians

back-stitch /'baekstitj/ noun [u, C] a method of sewing in which each stitch begins at the middle of the previous one

back-story /’baekstoiri/ noun {pi. -ies) the things that are supposed to have happened before the events in a film/movie, novel, etc. (

back-street /'baekstriit/ noun, adj. mnoun a small quiet street, usually in a poor part of a town or city, away from main roads li , 'Ml

( )

uadj. [only before noun] acting or happening secretly, often dishonestly or illegally ; (iff ; Bfftfe

M W: backstreet dealers J§# back-stroke /'baekstrauk; NAmE -strouk/ [BrE also back-crawl) noun [U, sing.] a style of swimming in which you lie on your back : Can you do (the) backstroke? #; zc fP t®, ? o He won the 100 metres backstroke (= the race). ftfeM# 100 —picture o

SWIMMING

back-swing /'baekswir)/ noun (sport W) the backwards movement of your arm or arms before you hit the ball

(awft)

'back talk noun [U] (NAmE) = backchat , back-to-' back noun {BrE) a house in a row of houses which share walls with the houses on each side and behind ( WffifqWffi&& ) : back-to-

backs built for the poor in the 19th century * 19

back-track /'baektraek/ verb [V] 1 to go back along the same route that you have just come along Uti® ill PH ; iff 0 ; iJfiH 2 to change an earlier statement, opinion or promise because of pressure from sb/sth (

back-up /'baekAp/ noun [U, C] 1 extra help or support that you can get if necessary Si: The police

had backup from the army. f 0

We can use him as a backup if one of the other players drops out. ^CWbMife# 0

a backup power supply E&ip. 2 (computing if) a copy of a file, etc. that can be used if the original is lost or damaged ( ) Hrffr: Always make a backup of

your work. „ 0 a backup copy

— see also back up at back v.

'backup light noun (NAmE) = reversing light back-ward 0-w /'baskwad; NAmE -ward/ adj.

1 [only before noun] directed or moving towards the back fo] ffj jft (ft: She strode past him without a backward glance. tibXcf fife

— Bll ₀ 2 moving in a direction that means that no

progress is being made #] i! (ft; fx 0 (ft PHU retrograde : She felt that going back to live in her home

town would be a backward step.

H'&fhlL 3 having made less progress than normal; developing slowly Jfj (ft; fl (ft: a backward

part of the country, with no paved roads and no electricity MW-l^/siifeK, 'MiiMifeM^oa backward child jgffcJLli 0 {BrE, informal) She’s not backward in coming forward (= she’s not shy). Mil tUlfeM tti^o — compare forward

.backward 'classes noun [pi.] (in India) the people in a caste (= division of society) or community who are recommended by each state authority for special help in education and employment

'backward-looking adj. {disapproving) opposed to progress or change ; ?§/5lft; ^

m

back ward ness /'baekwadnas; NAmE -ward-/ noun [U] the state of having made less progress than normal

back-wards 0-w /'baekwadz; NAmE -wardz/ (also back-ward especially in NAmE) adv.

1 towards a place or position that is behind ift fg -. I lost my balance and fell backwards. # ffi ^ f$J ₀