BACKUP
Dictionary entry overview: What does backup mean?
• BACKUP (noun)
The noun BACKUP has 5 senses:
1. an accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage
2. someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
3. a subordinate musical part; provides background for more important parts
4. (computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device
5. the act of providing approval and support
Familiarity information: BACKUP used as a noun is common.
Dictionary entry details
• BACKUP (noun)
Meaning:
An accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Context examples:
a traffic backup on the main street / he discovered a backup in the toilet
Hypernyms ("backup" is a kind of...):
accretion; accumulation (an increase by natural growth or addition)
Meaning:
Someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
backup man; fill-in; reliever; stand-in; backup; substitute; relief
Context examples:
the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes / we need extra employees for summer fill-ins
Hypernyms ("backup" is a kind of...):
compeer; equal; match; peer (a person who is of equal standing with another in a group)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "backup"):
locum; locum tenens (someone (physician or clergyman) who substitutes temporarily for another member of the same profession)
double; stunt man; stunt woman (a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts)
alternate; replacement; surrogate (someone who takes the place of another person)
Meaning:
A subordinate musical part; provides background for more important parts
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
musical accompaniment; accompaniment; backup; support
Hypernyms ("backup" is a kind of...):
part; voice (the melody carried by a particular voice or instrument in polyphonic music)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "backup"):
descant; discant (a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody)
vamp (an improvised musical accompaniment)
Meaning:
(computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
computer backup; backup
Context example:
he made a backup in case the original was accidentally damaged or erased
Hypernyms ("backup" is a kind of...):
duplicate; duplication (a copy that corresponds to an original exactly)
Domain category:
computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)
Meaning:
The act of providing approval and support
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
backing; patronage; championship; backup
Context example:
his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives
Hypernyms ("backup" is a kind of...):
approval; approving; blessing (the formal act of approving)
