backup

[bak-uhp] /ˈbækˌʌp/
noun
1.
a person or thing that supports or reinforces another.
2.
a musician or singer or group of musicians or singers accompanying a soloist:
a singer with a three-man backup that plays cello, bass, and guitar.
3.
an overflow or accumulation due to stoppage, malfunctioning, etc.:
a sewage backup; a backup of cars at the tollbooth.
4.
a person, plan, device, etc., kept in reserve to serve as a substitute, if needed.
5.
Computers.
  1. a copy or duplicate version, especially of a file, program, or entire computer system, retained for use in the event that the original is in some way rendered unusable.
  2. a procedure to follow in such an event.
6.
Bowling. a ball that curves in a direction corresponding to the bowling hand of the bowler.
adjective
7.
(of a person, plan, device, etc.) held in reserve as a substitute if needed:
a backup driver; a backup generator.
8.
performing a secondary or supporting function:
A drummer and guitarist are the singer's backup musicians.
Origin
1775-85, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase back up
Can be confused
back up, backup.
Usage note
See login.
Examples from the web for backup
  • Geothermal can meet that, without any need for auxiliary storage or a backup system.
  • Advance planning and backup systems allow colleges to recover data.
  • Computer servers need costly extra layers of backup.
  • When the going gets tough, for instance, some dolphins call for backup.
  • To date, no backup capacity for wind energy has been added.
  • We might need to use our backup plan for watermelon, too.
  • Provides backup facility oversight and coverage outside of normal work hours as required.
  • At present there are no backup boats, which means the fleet is pushed to its limit.
  • Even if the repairs had gone as planned, switching to the backup formatter involves some risk.
  • Why aren't they using steam from the residual heat to drive generators in a backup system.
British Dictionary definitions for backup

back up

verb (adverb)
1.
(transitive) to support or assist
2.
(intransitive) (cricket) (of a nonstriking batsman) to move down the wicket in readiness for a run as a ball is bowled
3.
(of water) to accumulate
4.
(of traffic) to become jammed behind an accident or other obstruction
5.
(computing) to make a copy of (a data file), esp for storage in another place as a security copy
6.
(printing) to print the second side of (a sheet)
7.
(Austral) (intransitive) usually foll by on. to repeat an action immediately
noun
8.
a support or reinforcement
9.
  1. a reserve or substitute
  2. (as modifier): backup troops
10.
(US & Canadian)
  1. musical accompaniment, esp for a pop singer
  2. (as modifier): backup singer
11.
the overflow from a blocked drain or pipe
12.
(computing) a file or set of files copied for security purposes
Word Origin and History for backup

see back up.

backup in Technology
operating system
("back up" when used as a verb) A spare copy of a file, file system, or other resource for use in the event of failure or loss of the original.
The term commonly refers to a copy of the files on a computer's disks, made periodically and kept on magnetic tape or other removable medium (also called a "dump").
This essential precaution is neglected by most new computer users until the first time they experience a disk crash or accidentally delete the only copy of the file they have been working on for the last six months. Ideally the backup copies should be kept at a different site or in a fire safe since, though your hardware may be insured against fire, the data on it is almost certainly neither insured nor easily replaced.
See also backup software, differential backup, incremental backup, full backup. Compare archive, source code management.
(2004-03-16)