Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - back street

also back-street, backstreet (back streets) 1. A back street in a town or city is a small, narrow street with very little traffic. The small church of San Michel is tucked away in a narrow back street of Port-au-Prince. ...backstreet garages. N-COUNT 2. The back streets of a town or city are the areas of small, old, poor streets rather than the richer or newer areas. ...the back streets of Berlin. N-PLURAL 3. Back street activities are carried out unofficially, secretly, and often illegally. ...back street abortions. ADJ: ADJ n