'backup' definitions:
Definition of 'backup'
(from WordNet)
noun
An accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage; "a traffic backup on the main street"; "he discovered a backup in the toilet"
noun
Someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult); "the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes"; "we need extra employees for summer fill- ins" [syn: stand-in, substitute, relief, reliever, backup, backup man, fill-in]
noun
A musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts [syn: accompaniment, musical accompaniment, backup, support]
noun
(computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device; "he made a backup in case the original was accidentally damaged or erased" [syn: backup, computer backup]
noun
The act of providing approval and support; "his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives" [syn: backing, backup, championship, patronage]
Definition of 'backup'
From: GCIDE
- backup \back"up\, n.
- 1. anything kept in reserve to serve as a substitute in case of failure or unavailability of the normal or primary object; -- used for devices, plans, people, etc. Also used attributively; as, there was no backup for the electrical supply; a backup motor; a backup generator. [PJC]
- 2. (Music) a musician or group of musicians accompanying a soloist, whether vocalists or instrumentalists.
- Syn: accompaniment. [PJC]
- 3. a person or group of persons serving as reinforcement for another or others; as, the policeman called for backup when he was fired on. [PJC]
- 4. an accumulation, overflow, or reverse flow (in traffic or a liquid flow system) caused by a stoppage or other malfunction. [PJC]
- 5. (Computers) A copy of a program or data from a computer onto a data-storage medium, usually one that may be removed to safe storage at a distance from the computer; it is used to preserve data for use in the contingency that the original data on the computer may be lost or become unusable. A backup that is removed from the building housing the computer system (to provide protection against loss of data in a disastrous event such as a fire) is called off-site backup. Also used attributively; as, backup copy. [PJC]
- 6. (Computers) The act or process of creating a backup[5]; as, they performed a full system backup every weekend. [PJC] Backward
Synonyms of 'backup'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- about-face,
- about-turn,
- advocate,
- agent,
- alter ego,
- alternate,
- alternative,
- amicus curiae,
- analogy,
- attorney,
- back track,
- back trail,
- backing,
- backing off,
- backing out,
- backing up,
- backup man,
- champion,
- change,
- changeling,
- comparison,
- copy,
- counterfeit,
- deputy,
- double,
- dummy,
- equal,
- equivalent,
- ersatz,
- exchange,
- executive officer,
- exponent,
- fake,
- figurehead,
- fill-in,
- ghost,
- ghostwriter,
- imitation,
- lieutenant,
- locum,
- locum tenens,
- makeshift,
- metaphor,
- metonymy,
- mock,
- next best thing,
- paranymph,
- personnel,
- phony,
- pinch,
- pinch hitter,
- pleader,
- procurator,
- provisional,
- proxy,
- relief,
- replacement,
- representative,
- reserve,
- reserves,
- reversal,
- reverse,
- reversing,
- reversion,
- right-about,
- right-about-face,
- ringer,
- second in command,
- second string,
- secondary,
- sign,
- spare,
- spares,
- stand-in,
- stopgap,
- sub,
- substituent,
- substitute,
- substitution,
- succedaneum,
- superseder,
- supplanter,
- surrogate,
- swingaround,
- symbol,
- synecdoche,
- temporary,
- tentative,
- third string,
- token,
- turnabout,
- turnaround,
- understudy,
- utility,
- utility man,
- utility player,
- vicar,
- vicar general,
- vicarious,
- vice,
- vice-president,
- vice-regent,
- vicegerent,
- volte-face