Describing something having a back that is straight and level, lacking a pronounced curve or arch. This term is frequently used to describe furniture, animals, and physical formations. It often implies a degree of stability and a lack of flexibility in the object's structure. flat-backed structures can sometimes be associated with a less ergonomic design when considering seating or carrying purposes, contrasting sharply with curved or contoured designs. Its use suggests a deliberate design choice or natural characteristic resulting in a surface suitable for specific purposes such as displaying objects or providing a stable base.
Flat-backed meaning with examples
- The antique chair boasted a flat-backed design, its solid construction perfectly complementing the rectangular dining table. Museum staff were very impressed with its stability and how it provided a secure base, to support and display the precious ancient artefacts. Visitors could marvel at the clean lines and minimal ornamentation, exemplifying the era's minimalist aesthetic. Despite its unyielding appearance, it was still able to support many different weights.
- The tortoiseshell, ancient and wise, moved slowly through the garden, its flat-backed shell seeming to glide along the earth. This characteristic adaptation provides the tortoise with its own armour. Its unique protection and defence, with no curved back or arch, allows for easy navigation through the dense foliage and allows it to retreat quickly to its security from the jaws of predators.
- Sculptors often choose a flat-backed slab of marble to commence their artwork, its level surface offering an ideal canvas for their intricate designs. A large number of designs and shapes can be created with the flat back, and this provides more than enough space to create intricate designs and carvings. They use its rigidity to support the stone tools as they are created. The design's clean lines and simplicity of the structure highlights its core value to sculptors.
- The geological formation in the desert showcased a flat-backed plateau, its elevated surface stark against the rolling sand dunes. The plateau appeared a stable landscape, its immense expanse visible for miles, offering a vantage point over the surrounding terrain. Despite the harsh environment, it provided shelter to a group of researchers. The structure was sturdy, offering a solid landscape from which the team conducted its scientific observations.