/ spaIn; spaIn/ n
row of bones along the back of humans and some animals; backbone 脊柱; 脊椎: He sustained an injury to his spine when he fell off his horse. 他从马上摔下来, 伤了脊梁骨. =>illus at skeleton 见skeleton插图.
any of the sharp needle-like parts on some plants (eg cactuses) and animals (eg porcupines, hedgehogs) （仙人掌等的）刺; （豪猪﹑ 刺?等的）刺毛. =>illus at App 1 见附录1插图, page iii.
back part of the cover of a book, where the pages are joined together (ie the part that is visible when it is in a row on a shelf, usu with the book's title on it) 书脊.
> spineless adj
1 (of an animal, etc) having no spine(1); invertebrate （指动物等）无脊椎的.
2 (fig derog 比喻, 贬) (of people) weak, cowardly or easilyfrightened （指人）软弱的, 胆小的, 无骨气的. spinelesslyadv. spinelessness n [U].
spiny adj (-ier, -iest) full of or covered with spines (spine 2); prickly 长满刺的; 多刺的; 带刺的: a spiny fish 鳍上多刺的鱼.
# `spine-chiller n book, film, etc that is frightening in a thrilling way 令人毛骨悚然的书﹑ 电影等. `spine-chilling adj: a spine-chilling horror story 令人毛骨悚然的恐怖小说.