QUARTERBACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does quarterback mean? 

• QUARTERBACK (noun)
  The noun QUARTERBACK has 2 senses:

1. (football) the person who plays quarterback

2. (American football) the position of the football player in the backfield who directs the offensive play of his team

  Familiarity information: QUARTERBACK used as a noun is rare.

• QUARTERBACK (verb)
  The verb QUARTERBACK has 1 sense:

1. play the quarterback

  Familiarity information: QUARTERBACK used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• QUARTERBACK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(football) the person who plays quarterback

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

field general; quarterback; signal caller

Hypernyms ("quarterback" is a kind of...):

back ((football) a person who plays in the backfield)

Domain category:

football; football game (any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal)

Derivation:

quarterback (play the quarterback)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(American football) the position of the football player in the backfield who directs the offensive play of his team

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

field general; quarterback; signal caller

Context example:

quarterback is the most important position on the team

Hypernyms ("quarterback" is a kind of...):

back ((American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage)

Holonyms ("quarterback" is a member of...):

eleven; football team (a team that plays football)

Derivation:

quarterback (play the quarterback)

• QUARTERBACK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they quarterback    ... he / she / it quarterbacks   
Past simple: quarterbacked   
Past participle: quarterbacked   
-ing form: quarterbacking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Play the quarterback

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "quarterback" is one way to...):

play (participate in games or sport)

Domain category:

football; football game (any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

quarterback ((American football) the position of the football player in the backfield who directs the offensive play of his team)

quarterback ((football) the person who plays quarterback)