backup

noun, adj — 10 senses

backup

noun

/ˈbækˌʌp/

Etymology Deverbal from back up.

7 senses
  1. 1A reserve or substitute.
  2. 2A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the…
  3. 3An accumulation of material caused by a (partial)…
  4. 4Reinforcements.
  5. 5Any support or extra help.
  6. 6Accompaniment.
  7. 7Corroboration.
1

A reserve or substitute.

  • If the goalkeeper is injured, we have a backup.
2

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the original, that can be used to recover the original if it is damaged or destroyed.

  • After the power failure, we had to restore the database from backup.
3

An accumulation of material caused by a (partial) obstruction or (complete) blockage of the flow or movement of the material, or an accumulation of material that causes an overflow due to the flow being greater than the maximum possible flow.

  • The accident caused a mile-long backup on the highway.
  • The blockage caused a backup in the plumbing.
4

Government, Law enforcement Reinforcements.

  • He's got a gun! You'd better send for backup.
5

Broadly Any support or extra help.

  • Shaman: My patience is tested, but Uvenk invokes correctly. Grunt, who is your krantt? Your allies willing to kill and die on your behalf? Shepard: How is a candidate tested if he brings backup on his Rite of Passage? Shaman: Not every krogan can be the strongest warrior, but each must inspire his peers to battle at his side. Shaman: If the ones who know you best can find nothing worthy in you, you should wander the wastes and die alone before you weaken my clan.2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Tuchanka:
  • This guy, he grabs the dog by the ears, stares it down like a cowboy in a showdown. The man regains control again. He scans the area, hoping for backup. Nothing. No neighbours, no dog whisperers, no animal control.2025, Man Attacked by Vicious Pit Bull After Gate Left Open!:
6

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Accompaniment.

  • Debbie Ahn, on piano, provided some mesmerizing back-up and many fiery, on-target solos.1984 April 21, Pam Gordon, “'There's Always Cost': Ferron's Boston Concert”, in Gay Community News, page 17:
7

Corroboration.

  • Pg. 206 on Yudit's comments on the feminists of Tel Aviv, "... and now they are translating Our Bodies Ourselves into Hebrew, leaving out the section on gays" was misinformed, a statement made without authoratative ^([sic]) backup in 1979 about a book first published in 1982.1982 December 4, Ilana Weinstock, “Letters From My Aunt”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 20, page 4:
Synonyms
reserve, stand-in, spare, substitute, tailback, line
Derived terms
battery backup

backup

adj

Etymology Deverbal from back up.

1

Standby, reserve or extra.

  • I am only a backup player.
2

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences That is intended as a backup.

  • Make a backup copy of that file.
3

Supporting, reinforcing; (music) of or related to accompaniment

Synonyms
extra, reserve, spare, standby, backing
Derived terms
autobackup, backup beeper, backup camera, backup copy, backup vocalist, backup vocals, incremental backup, rolling backup

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.