spaɪn n. 1 a
series of vertebrae extending
from the skull to the
small of the
back, enclosing the
spinal cord and providing support for the
thorax and
abdomen; the
backbone. 2 Zool. &
Bot.
any hard pointed process or
structure. 3 a
sharp ridge or
projection,
esp. of a
mountain range or
slope. 4 a
central feature, main support, or
source of
strength. 5 the
part of a book's
jacket or
cover that encloses the page-fastening part and usu. faces
outwards on a shelf. øspine-chiller a frightening story,
film, etc. spine-chilling (esp. of a story etc.) frightening. øøspined adj. [ME f. OF espine or L spina
thorn, backbone]