1Help or support.

1. 1.1 A person or thing that can be called on if necessary; a reserve.
   I've got a security force as backup

   as modifier a backup generator

   the filter is an excellent backup to other systems

   Example sentencesExamples

   • But if you have an electric stove, it requires so much power that many backup generators won't be able to run it.
   • The club still is looking for improved defense, speed, a backup catcher and a reserve outfielder.
   • Most backup diesel generators burn distillate fuel oil, the same fuel used for heating and for aircraft.
   • These backup forces are demoralized and headed for the door.
   • With both the main generators and their backup out of service, the plant's cooling system was dependent on batteries, which last eight hours.
   • You've got a budget of $60 million and $10 million is reserved for backup players.
   • If your backup generator isn't powering the refrigerator, raid it for the food, but don't open the door more than necessary.
   • Despite this redundancy, there are also backup generators.
   • Emergency backup generators will not be adequate to maintain even a rudimentary water supply.
   • He will serve as the primary backup at second and third and possibly at first, and he also could play at shortstop or a corner outfield spot.
   • The Government is determined to bring in all necessary scientific backup to monitor the pollution risk and vowed to allocate whatever resources were required.
   • The most serious incident was compounded by the failure of a battery powered backup generator in the air traffic control tower.
   • Two other team members should be assigned to provide backup power and establish alternate communication systems.
   • I live up on a mountain, and I have a generator for backup power.
   • The backup diesel generators in their facilities were designed only to handle critical loads, not full operations.
   • Our plan would thus be incomplete without a provision for backup forces, included in most proposals for a rapid reaction force.
   • Some roles never were fully established, including second base, backup catcher and setup reliever.
   • Or, combine your backup generator with a renewable energy system, and declare your total independence from the grid!
   • When she was sure that they had all gone, she informed the police backup that they were to arrest any reporter they saw that came within eyeshot of the post office.
   • The original cornice was sheared off from the existing backup stone and replaced with new marble.

   Synonyms

   acting, replacement, deputy, relief, reserve, surrogate, fill-in, stand-in, temporary, caretaker, alternative, locum, standby, stopgap, interim, provisional, pro tem, proxy, ancillary

2Computing
An extra copy of data from a computer.

1. 2.1 The procedure for making extra copies of data in case the original is lost or damaged.
   automatic online backup

   as modifier a backup system

   Example sentencesExamples

   • They also help me forget about rational things like computer backup and backup software.
   • Online backup is actually more secure than storing unencrypted data tapes in a remote vault.
   • It collects backup streams from several computers and writes them all to tape together with headers identifying their origins.
   • Make simple backups and keep every copy of your Web or FTP site up to date with some standard tools that probably are already on your system.
   • The good thing about online backup is, it's accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
   • You can even have one more for storing all your multimedia files, and maybe even one for storing backups of all your important files.
   • The software giant went on to warn that the danger from shoddy backup procedures will be compounded by what it predicts will be sharp increases in the number of laptops being damaged or stolen.
   • Software upgrades routine backup and restore procedures will also take much less time.
   • Copy and move functions include replication, remote mirroring, and online backup.
   • When astronauts leave Earth, many plans, procedures, and backup systems are in place for their comfort and survival.
   • To ease the procedure you can use some automatic backup software.
   • A similar volume is likely to be sold for use as backup storage for notebook and desktop computers.
   • It might ask about the partner's incident response plan or backup procedures, for example.
   • Enterprises store four times the data they produce as backups and archives.
   • He has insisted that his company's software was meant to let consumers innocently make backup copies of their DVDs and computer games.
   • Also, PC vendors can configure it to store backups of a user's critical data files as well as tweaks to the OS and applications.
   • I dug through my backups and found some old files I needed.
   • Make regular backups of your data files to separate file storage device.
   • Be sure to have all your drivers next to you just in case, also, be sure to have a backup of any important information.
   • So, as you build your computer data backup system, be sure to document your test procedures into handy checklists.
   • A built in backup system enables data backup to a tape or hard drive.
   • The typical user has a few things in mind when buying a CD burner: first of all, to make backups, and copies of game or music CDs.
   • Now there are plenty of small companies that have lost backups and archived data.
   • That's when I say a silent prayer of thanks for the triple-redundant tape backups and burnt CDs of printed files that clutter our storage closet.
   • I have lots of diddling with old post categories and backups and so forth to do, but it looks like the site's pretty much back!
   • There is no way really to tell whether the primary purpose of a device is to make personal backups or illegal copies.
   • How could they have known they had ‘all’ the records if they didn't have either the microfilm or the paper backups?
   • Computer hell is the place for computers without computer backup.
   • Preparation includes making backups of all software (including operating systems) and making a contingency plan.
   • There are plenty of free and trial backup products available for download or purchase online.
   • Also, let's say that you have no backup storage devices, and you have some large files that wouldn't fit on another partition.
   • There's a lot more to making backups than just copying a few files onto a CDRW disk and throwing it into a box.
   • The owner is responsible for maintaining the system, including making backup copies of all project data on a regular basis.
   • Customers will probably turn to the boxes for basic storage, disk-to-disk backups and archiving.
   • The best solution is to make backup automatic, and there are many ways to do that depending on how much you are willing to pay.
   • ‘It was a horrible day… and I keep floppy backups of the important stuff now,’ she said.
   • You'll also need ‘several hundred megabytes plus several hundred more’ for temporary files and backups, so start tidying those hard disks, people.
   • We used a feature in both backup apps to simply replicate the folder, so that compression overhead wasn't a factor.
   • The devices can be used as a repository for large multimedia files, and to store backups of critical data as well as disk images.
   • I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to make critical backups of important data.

3North American An overflow caused by a stoppage, as in water or automobile traffic.