backup

(Sometimes "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 is most commonly used to refer to a copy of all the files on a computer's disks which is 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 differential backup, incremental backup, full backup. Compare archive.

(2003-06-22)

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)
 

backup \back"up\, n.

1. 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; as, there was no backup for the electrical supply; a backup motor; a backup generator. [PJC]

2. (Music) a musician or group of musicians accompanying a soloist, whether vocalists or instrumentalists.

Syn: accompaniment. [PJC]

3. a person or group of persons serving as reinforcement for another or others; as, the policeman called for backup when he was fired on. [PJC]

4. an accumulation, overflow, or reverse flow (in traffic or a liquid flow system) caused by a stoppage or other malfunction. [PJC]

5. (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; as, backup copy. [PJC]

6. (Computers) The act or process of creating a backup[5]; as, they performed a full system backup every weekend. [PJC] Backward

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

104 Moby Thesaurus words for "backup": about-face, about-turn, advocate, agent, alter ego, alternate, alternative, amicus curiae, analogy, attorney, back track, back trail, backing, backing off, backing out, backing up, backup man, champion, change, changeling, comparison, copy, counterfeit, deputy, double, dummy, equal, equivalent, ersatz, exchange, executive officer, exponent, fake, figurehead, fill-in, ghost, ghostwriter, imitation, lieutenant, locum, locum tenens, makeshift, metaphor, metonymy, mock, next best thing, paranymph, personnel, phony, pinch, pinch hitter, pleader, procurator, provisional, proxy, relief, replacement, representative, reserve, reserves, reversal, reverse, reversing, reversion, right-about, right-about-face, ringer, second in command, second string, secondary, sign, spare, spares, stand-in, stopgap, sub, substituent, substitute, substitution, succedaneum, superseder, supplanter, surrogate, swingaround, symbol, synecdoche, temporary, tentative, third string, token, turnabout, turnaround, understudy, utility, utility man, utility player, vicar, vicar general, vicarious, vice, vice-president, vice-regent, vicegerent, volte-face

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

backup

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0