2 N‑VAR If you have something such as a second piece of equipment or set of plans as backup , you have arranged for them to be available for use in case the first one does not work. □ Every part of the system has a backup. □ Computer users should make regular back-up copies of their work.
back|ward /bæ kwə r d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A backward movement or look is in the direction that your back is facing. Some people use backwards for this meaning. □ He turned and walked out without a backward glance. □ He did a backward flip.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If someone takes a backward step, they do something that does not change or improve their situation, but causes them to go back a stage. □ At a certain age, it's not viable for men to take a backward step into unskilled work.
3 ADJ A backward country or society does not have modern industries and machines. □ We need to accelerate the pace of change in our backward country. ● back|ward|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] I was astonished at the backwardness of our country at the time.
4 ADJ A backward child has difficulty in learning. This use could cause offence. □ I was slow to walk and talk and my parents thought I was backward.
ba ckward-looking also backward looking ADJ If you describe someone or something as backward-looking , you disapprove of their attitudes, ideas, or actions because they are based on old-fashioned opinions or methods. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a stagnant, backward-looking culture.
back|wards /bæ kwə r dz/ In American English, backward is usually used as an adverb instead of backwards . Backward is also sometimes used in this way in formal British English. 1 ADV [ADV after v] If you move or look backwards , you move or look in the direction that your back is facing. □ The diver flipped over backwards into the water. □ He took two steps backward. □ Bess glanced backwards. □ Keeping your back straight, swing one leg backwards. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Backwards is also an adjective. □ Without so much as a backwards glance, he steered her towards the car.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you do something backwards , you do it in the opposite way to the usual way. □ He works backwards, building a house from the top downwards.
3 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] You use backwards to indicate that something changes or develops in a way that is not an improvement, but is a return to old ideas or methods. □ Greater government intervention in businesses would represent a step backwards. □ …the blaming that keeps us looking backward.
4 → see also backward
5 PHRASE If someone or something moves backwards and forwards , they move repeatedly first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. □ Draw the floss backwards and forwards between the teeth. □ …people travelling backwards and forwards to and from London.
6 to bend over backwards → see bend
back|wash /bæ kwɒʃ/ N‑SING The backwash of an event or situation is an unpleasant situation that exists after it and as a result of it. □ …the backwash of the tragedy.
back|water /bæ kwɔːtə r / (backwaters )
1 N‑COUNT A backwater is a place that is isolated. □ …a quiet rural backwater.
2 N‑COUNT If you refer to a place or institution as a backwater , you think it is not developing properly because it is isolated from ideas and events in other places and institutions. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Britain could become a political backwater with no serious influence in the world.
back|woods /bæ kwʊdz/ N‑PLURAL If you refer to an area as the backwoods , you mean that it is a long way from large towns and is isolated from modern life. □ …the backwoods of Louisiana.
back|woods|man /bæ kwʊdzmən/ (backwoodsmen ) N‑COUNT Backwoodsmen are people, especially politicians, who like the old ways of doing things, or who are involved in an organization at a local level. [mainly BRIT ] □ …Republican Party backwoodsmen in the United States.
back|yard /bæ kjɑː r d/ (backyards ) also back yard
1 N‑COUNT A backyard is an area of land at the back of a house.
2 N‑COUNT [with poss] If you refer to a country's own backyard , you are referring to its own territory or to somewhere that is very close and where that country wants to influence events. □ Economics will not stop Europe's politicians complaining when jobs are lost in their own backyard.
ba|con /be I kən/ N‑UNCOUNT Bacon is salted or smoked meat which comes from the back or sides of a pig.
bac|te|ria /bækt I ə riə/ N‑PLURAL Bacteria are very small organisms. Some bacteria can cause disease. □ Chlorine is added to kill bacteria.
bac|te|rial /bækt I ə riəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Bacterial is used to describe things that relate to or are caused by bacteria. □ Cholera is a bacterial infection.
bac|te|ri|ol|ogy /bækt I ə riɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Bacteriology is the science and the study of bacteria. ● bac|te|rio|logi|cal /bækt I ə riəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] □ …the national bacteriological laboratory.
bac|te|rium /bækt I ə r I ʊm/ Bacterium is the singular of bacteria .
bad ◆◆◆ /bæ d/ (worse , worst )
1 ADJ Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable. □ The bad weather conditions prevented the plane from landing. □ We have been going through a bad time. □ I've had a bad day at work. □ Divorce is bad for children. □ Analysts fear the situation is even worse than the leadership admits.