backgrounder

a press conference or interview in which a government official explains to reporters the background of an action or policy; "the secretary gave us a backgrounder on public health issues" ;

backgrounding

the execution of low priority programs while higher priority programs are not using the processing system ;

backhand

a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke ;

backhand drive

a hard straight return made on the backhand side ;

backhand shot

a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke ;

backhand stroke

a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke ;

backhander

a backhanded blow ;

backhoe

an excavator whose shovel bucket is attached to a hinged boom and is drawn backward to move earth ;

backing

the act of providing approval and support; "his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives" ; something forming a back that is added for strengthening ; financial resources provided to make some project possible; "the foundation provided support for the experiment" ;

backlash

an adverse reaction to some political or social occurrence; "there was a backlash of intolerance" ; a movement back from an impact ;

backlighting

lighting from behind ;

backlog

an accumulation of jobs not done or materials not processed that are yet to be dealt with (especially unfilled customer orders for products or services) ; something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose ; large log at the back of a hearth fire ;

backpack

a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder ;

backpacker

a hiker who wears a backpack ;

backpacking

carrying something in a pack on the back; "the backpacking of oxygen is essential for astronauts" ;

backpacking tent

a tent that can be carried in a backpack ;

backplate

plate armor protecting the back; worn as part of a cuirass ;

backrest

a support that you can lean against while sitting; "the back of the dental chair was adjustable" ;

backroom

the meeting place of a group of leaders who make their decisions via private negotiations ;

backroom boy

an expert adviser involved in making important decisions but usually lacking official status ;

backsaw

a handsaw that is stiffened by metal reinforcement along the upper edge ;

backscratcher

a long-handled scratcher for scratching your back ; someone who is willing to trade favors or services for mutual advantage ;

backseat

a seat at the back of a vehicle (especially the seat at the back of an automobile) ; a secondary or inferior position or status; "tennis has had to take a backseat while his work is so demanding" ;

backseat driver

a meddler who insists on giving unwanted advice ;

backsheesh

a relatively small amount of money given for services rendered (as by a waiter) ;

backside

the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on; "he deserves a good kick in the butt"; "are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?" ; the side of an object that is opposite its front; "his room was toward the rear of the hotel" ;

backslapper

someone who demonstrates enthusiastic or excessive cordiality ;

backslider

someone who lapses into previous undesirable patterns of behavior ;

backsliding

a failure to maintain a higher state ;

backspace

the typewriter key used for back spacing ;

backspace character

a control character that indicates moving a space to the left ;

backspace key

the typewriter key used for back spacing ;

backspacer

the typewriter key used for back spacing ;

backspin

spin (usually of a moving ball) that retards or reverses the forward motion ;

backstage

a stage area out of sight of the audience ;

backstairs

a second staircase at the rear of a building ;

backstay

a stay that supports the back of something ;

backstitch

overlapping stitch made by starting next stitch at middle of preceding one ;

backstop

a precaution in case of an emergency; "he acted as a backstop in case anything went wrong" ; (baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field ; (baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher ;

backstroke

a swimming stroke that resembles the crawl except the swimmer lies on his or her back ;