Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A reserve or substitute.
  • noun Computers A copy of a program or file that is stored separately from the original.
  • noun Support or backing.
  • noun Music A background accompaniment, as for a performer.
  • noun An overflow or accumulation caused by clogging or by a stoppage.
  • adjective Extra; standby.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun 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.
  • noun (Music) a musician or group of musicians accompanying a soloist, whether vocalists or instrumentalists.
  • noun a person or group of persons serving as reinforcement for another or others.
  • noun an accumulation, overflow, or reverse flow (in traffic or a liquid flow system) caused by a stoppage or other malfunction.
  • noun (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.
  • noun (Computers) The act or process of creating a backup{5}.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A reserve or substitute.
  • noun computing A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the original, that can be used to recover the original if it is destroyed or damaged.
  • noun An accumulation of material that halts the flow or movement of something.
  • noun law enforcement reinforcements
  • adjective standby, reserve or extra
  • adjective computing That is intended as a backup.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
  • noun an accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage
  • noun (computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device
  • noun the act of providing approval and support
  • noun someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

back +‎ up

Support

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Examples

  • For example, if you put the backup and restore scripts in a folder called h: \backup and your run the backup script, it will create a folder called h: \backup\tweedeckbackup and copy into it all your TweetDeck settings.

    TechLifeWeb 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

  • He said the Rangers have talked about him going to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which he calls a backup plan.

    Texas Rangers 2009

Comments

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  • a 'backup' in computer science also refers to making a copy of a user's entire hard drive. "Fortunately, I made a backup last night before the crash."

    June 28, 2009