British EnglishGeneral Englishfigurativeemphaticliterary
- Thoroughly or completely; used as an intensifier to indicate that a quality or characteristic is deeply ingrained.
- Deeply or utterly in relation to personal identity or disposition (e.g., expressing that someone is thoroughly of a certain character or nationality).
General Englishneutraltechnical
- As far as, or up to, the spinal column; reaching the backbone in a physical or anatomical sense.
General Englishneutralformal
- Pertaining to or directed toward the principal support, core, or most essential part of an organization, system, or community.