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back end

[ bak-end ]
/ ˈbæk ˈɛnd /
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See synonyms for: back end / back ends on Thesaurus.com
noun
the rear part of something:I didn’t think my stage debut would entail playing the back end of a bull!My eyes followed the back end of the car, watching it slowly creep up the road and out of sight.
the later part of a process or span of time:The team has a chance to turn their season around, but they face a difficult back end of the schedule.
Computers. the parts of a computer program, website, system, network, etc., that the user does not see or directly interact with:The user information has all been updated in the back end.Our engineers can refurbish existing backends internally, improving structure and performance without altering the external behavior of the code.
the part of an organization or process that operates in the background or out of the public view: Tell us about the back end of your business, like your accounting and data processing systems.
British. the last few months of the year:The journal was published at the back end of last year.
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Also back-end, back·end .

Origin of back end

First recorded in 1590–1600

Words nearby back end

backdraught, backdrop, backed, back emf, back emission, back end, back-end load, backend-to, backer, backer-up, backfall

Other definitions for back end (2 of 2)

back-end

or back·end

[ bak-end ]
/ ˈbækˌɛnd /
adjective
Computers. being or relating to those parts of a computer program, website, system, network, etc., that the user does not see or directly interact with:Managed website hosting is for those who do not want to bother with a lot of the back-end stuff like updating apps and enabling automatic backups.We’re seeking an experienced back-end developer to help complete the development of our mobile education platform.
being or relating to the part of an organization that operates in the background or out of the public view:The library is hoping to streamline many of their back-end administrative processes.The back-end legal and financial responsibilities of running a business are significant.
happening or incurred at or near the end of a process or span of time: We do not ever charge hidden back-end transaction fees.The young pitcher is shaping up to be a great middle or back-end reliever.

Origin of back-end

First recorded in 1970–75
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to back end

rear, tail, back, back door, backside, bottom, butt, rear end, extremity, hind, hindquarters, posterior, reverse, stern, tailpiece, behind, bum, derriere, fanny, fundament

How to use back end in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for back end

back end
noun
Northern English dialect autumn
adjective back-end
(of money, costs, etc) required or incurred after a project has been completed

Word Origin for back end

from the phrase the back end of the year
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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