spine

colonna vertebrale, spina dorsale

Serie di ossa collegate tra loro che corre al centro della schiena.

In inglese semplice: The line of connected bones down the middle of your back.

• Keep your spine straight.
• The fall damaged his spine.
• The doctor checked her spine for signs of injury.

Sinonimi: backbone, spinal column

Espressioni comuni: injured spine, curved spine, base of spine

spina, aculeo

Punta rigida e affilata che cresce su un animale o una pianta.

In inglese semplice: A stiff, sharp point growing on an animal or plant.

• A spine pricked my finger.
• The hedgehog raised its spines.
• Some fish have poisonous spines on their backs.

Sinonimi: prickle, thorn

Espressioni comuni: cactus spine, sharp spine, poisonous spine

dorso

Bordo stretto sul retro di un libro dove le pagine sono tenute insieme.

In inglese semplice: The narrow back edge of a book where its pages are held together.

• The title is on the spine.
• The old book had a cracked spine.
• She repaired the spines of several damaged books.

Come si usa: spine of something (The title is printed on the spine of the book.)

Sinonimi: back

Espressioni comuni: book spine, cracked spine, spine of something

coraggio, spina dorsale

Coraggio di farsi valere o di affrontare qualcosa di difficile.

In inglese semplice: The courage to stand up for yourself or do something difficult.

• Show some spine!
• He lacked the spine to challenge his boss.
• She finally showed some spine and refused to work unpaid.

Sinonimi: courage, backbone, nerve

Contrari: cowardice

Espressioni comuni: have some spine, show some spine, lack spine