Backbone crossword clue
How to Solve "Backbone" Crossword Clue
When you come across the clue "backbone" in a crossword puzzle, it's referring to something or someone that provides support or strength. This could be literal, like the spine in your body, or figurative, like the main support of an argument or structure. Solving this clue can lead you in many directions, so let's explore possible answers based on the number of letters they contain.
Possible Answers with 3 Letters and Their Meanings
- Gut - Refers to courage or bravery, qualities associated with being the backbone in a metaphorical sense.
- Arm - Although not directly a backbone, it can symbolize strength and support.
- Leg - Like the arm, a leg is essential for support but is not a direct match for "backbone."
- Rib - A bone in the torso that, while not the backbone, is structurally supportive.
Possible Answers with 4 Letters and Their Meanings
- Spur - A thing that prompts or encourages someone; metaphorically, it can be seen as a backbone.
- Axis - The main line about which parts are arranged, similar to how the backbone is the central support of the body.
- Core - The central or most important part of something, much like a backbone.
- Stay - Means to remain in a specific state or position, metaphorically can imply support or backbone.
Possible Answers with 5 Letters and Their Meanings
- Spine - The literal term for the backbone in vertebrates.
- Brace - Something that supports or holds parts together, similar to a backbone's function.
- Basis - The underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process, akin to a backbone.
- Frame - A rigid structure that shapes or supports something, metaphorically similar to a backbone.
Possible Answers with 6 Letters and Their Meanings
- Column - A structural element that supports, similar to how a backbone supports the body.
- Girdle - A belt or band that encircles the body, providing support and stability.
- Shaft - The long, narrow part of something, akin to a backbone in its elongated support function.
- Stalk - The main stem of a plant, which provides support, similar to a backbone.
Possible Answers with 7 Letters and Their Meanings
- Support - To bear all or part of the weight; to hold up, directly reflecting the function of a backbone.
- Upright - Something vertical and straight, similar to the posture provided by a healthy backbone.
- Vertebra - One of the series of small bones forming the backbone.
Possible Answers with 8 Letters and Their Meanings
- Skeleton - The framework of bones supporting the body, of which the backbone is a crucial part.
- Strength - The quality or state of being strong, physically or metaphorically, akin to a backbone's role.
- Stalwart - Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; figuratively, a backbone of a group or cause.
Possible Answers with 9 Letters and Their Meanings
- Framework - A basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text, similar to a backbone.
- Mainstay - A principal support, akin to how a backbone supports the body.
- Foundation - The lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level; metaphorically, a backbone.
Possible Answers with 10 Letters and Their Meanings
- Backboning - Providing support or strength to someone or something, much like a backbone does.
- Vertebrate - An animal with a spine or backbone, directly relating to the clue.
- Cornerstone - Something of great importance that everything else depends upon, similar to a backbone's essential support role.
Remember, the context of the crossword and the intersecting clues can help you narrow down the correct answer. Happy puzzling!