Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Material used to refill an excavated area.
- transitive verb To refill (an excavated area) with such material.
- transitive verb To fill (a job or position that has been vacated).
from The Century Dictionary.
- In engineering, to fill (a depression) with material taken from a cutting.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To
refill ahole with the material dug out of it. - verb archaeology To refill an
excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and or to preserve the unit and make it recognizable as having been excavated. - verb US To provide reserve support.
- verb US To
replenish orrestock due toattrition or loss. - noun The material that has been used to refill an
excavation . - noun US Reserve support personnel.
- noun US That which backfills; a
replacement .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Another performance enhancing "substance" has been less publicly discussed but perhaps just as important, if not more, and that is known as backfill bias.
The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Preet Banerjee 2011
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Leggett says there is no cost because the agreement says that no overtime can be paid to "backfill" for employees who take the leave.
In giving 117 years of comp time, Montgomery official hopes to heal budget wounds 2010
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Leggett says there is no cost because the agreement says that no overtime can be paid to "backfill" for employees who take the leave.
In giving 117 years of comp time, Montgomery official hopes to heal budget wounds 2010
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First Shahina would have to make her way through Mellaart’s backfill, that is, the earth that he had used to bury and protect his excavations in hopes that he would be back one day.
The Goddess and the Bull MICHAEL BALTER 2005
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The state would help "backfill" expenses that smaller districts can't afford.
Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local Pilgrim1620 2010
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The state would help "backfill" expenses that smaller districts can't afford.
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The state would help "backfill" expenses that smaller districts can't afford.
Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local coachk 2010
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O'Brien said the funds are not meant to "backfill" district cuts.
Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local editor@denverpost.com ( 2010
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The state would help "backfill" expenses that smaller districts can't afford.
Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local coachk 2010
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The state would help "backfill" expenses that smaller districts can't afford.
Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local Pilgrim1620 2010
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