to move a (typewriter carriage or computer cursor) backwards
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
back•space /ˈbækˌspeɪs/USA pronunciation
v., -spaced, -spac•ing, n.
v. [no obj]
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025v. [no obj]
- Printingto move the typing element of a typewriter or the cursor on a computer display one space backward.
n. [countable]
- Computingthe key on a typewriter or computer keyboard used for backspacing.
back•space
(bak′spās′),USA pronunciation v., -spaced, -spac•ing, n.
v.i.
n.
v.i.
- Printingto shift the carriage or typing element of a typewriter one space backward by depressing a special key.
- Computingto move the cursor, printhead, etc., toward the beginning of the data.
n.
- Printingthe space made by backspacing.
- ComputingAlso called back′spac′er, back′space key′. the labeled key on a typewriter or computer keyboard used for backspacing.
- back2 + space
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