backbone

Air’s intense focus gave these wispy songs a strong backbone too.

Members of the union, which represents TV and film writers, marched with signs calling the move an attack on free speech and accusing Walt Disney Co. executives of lacking backbone.

When you open up the body like a huge ear, you start to realize that percussion isn’t just the backbone of music — it’s the soul, breath and gesture.

Will the party’s leaders have that much steel in their backbone?

That sheer ubiquity makes it impossible to treat wells or ponds as simple "risk factors" - they are the backbone of life in the state.