# backup

Pronunciation: US say "BAK-up" /ˈbækˌʌp/; UK

## Noun

1. A copy of a file or record, kept separately from the original, used to restore it if the original is damaged or destroyed.
   - Simple: A saved copy of a file, kept apart so you can get it back if the first one is lost.
   - _The team restored the database from last night's backup after the crash._
   - _Cloud backups update automatically whenever a file changes._
2. A reserve or substitute kept in case the main person or thing fails or becomes unavailable.
   - Simple: A person or thing kept ready to take the place of another if needed.
   - _When the lead singer fell ill, her backup stepped in for the show._
   - _The pilot trained two backups to fly the mission if needed._
3. Any kind of support or extra help that one can rely on.
   - Simple: Extra help or support that you can count on.
   - _She gave a great speech, but she kept her notes as backup._
   - _New employees can ask senior staff for backup during busy shifts._
5. A buildup of material caused by a blockage that stops it from flowing, or by flow that exceeds what can pass through.
   - Simple: A buildup of something that cannot move because the way is blocked.
   - _Plumbers cleared the sewage backup before it flooded the basement._
   - _Morning accidents create long backups on the highway._
6. Additional officers or personnel called in as reinforcements.
   - Simple: Extra police or officers sent to give support.
   - _The detective radioed for backup as the suspect fled down the alley._
   - _Two units provided backup during the raid._
8. Accompaniment, especially the musical or vocal support played or sung behind a lead performer.
   - Simple: Music or singing that supports a main performer.
   - _The soloist's backup consisted of two guitars and a drummer._
   - _Smooth vocal backup carried the melody beneath her lead._
10. Corroboration; evidence or support that confirms a claim or statement.
   - Simple: Facts or proof that support what someone says.
   - _The witness provided backup for the defendant's account._
   - _Without documentary backup, the auditors rejected the figures._

## Adjective

4. Held as a standby, reserve, or extra in case the main one is required.
   - Simple: Kept ready to be used if the main one is needed.
   - _The hospital relies on a backup generator during outages._
   - _Each climber carried a backup rope for safety._
7. Supporting or reinforcing; in music, relating to accompaniment behind a lead performer.
   - Simple: Giving support, or adding music behind a main singer.
   - _The backup vocalists harmonized during the chorus._
   - _He played a backup role, steadying the rhythm for the lead guitarist._
9. Designed or held in reserve to take over if the primary system or data is lost.
   - Simple: Kept ready to take over if the main one stops working.
   - _Engineers installed a backup power supply for the data center._
   - _The backup database mirrors the live one in real time._

## Verb

11. Alternative form of back up. Nonstandard: as a verb it is usually written as two words, back up. *(nonstandard)* — Alternative form of back up.
   - Simple: Alternative form of back up. Common for making a safety copy, but the standard verb is two words, back up.
   - _Always backup important data to a separate drive._
   - _The script will backup the database each night._

## Origin

Formed from the verb "back up."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/backup (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).