adverbπShareTowards the back or rear; backwards."The little dog ran aback when the loud noise startled him. "directionnauticalpositionChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
adverbπShareIn the rear; a distance behind."The school bus pulled away, leaving me a little bit aback. "directionpositionnauticalChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
adverbπShareBy surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)"The teacher's sudden announcement took the students aback. "attitudesensationmindemotionChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
adverbπShareBackward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way."The sailboat heeled slightly aback as the gust of wind caught its sails from the wrong direction. "nauticalsailingtechnicalChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareAn abacus."My grandfather used an abacus to quickly calculate the grocery bill. "mathnumberutensildeviceChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading