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Backup vs Auxiliary - What's the difference?

backup | auxiliary |

As nouns the difference between backup and auxiliary

is that backup is a reserve or substitute while auxiliary is a person or group that acts in an auxiliary manner.

As adjectives the difference between backup and auxiliary

is that backup is standby, reserve or extra while auxiliary is helping]]; [[give|giving assistance or support.

backup

English

Alternative forms

* back-up

Noun

(en noun)
  • A reserve or substitute.
    • If the goalkeeper is injured, we have a backup .
  • (computing) A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the original, that can be used to recover the original if it is destroyed or damaged.
    • After the power failure, we had to restore the database from backup .
  • An accumulation of material that halts the flow or movement of something.
    • The blockage caused a backup in the plumbing.
  • (law enforcement) reinforcements
    • He's got a gun - you better send for backup .

    Synonyms

    * (reserve ): reserve, stand-in, spare, substitute * (computing: copy of a file or record ): * (accumulation of material that halts flow ): block, blockage

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Standby, reserve or extra.
    • I am only a backup player.
  • (computing) That is intended as a backup.
    • Make a backup copy of that file.

    Synonyms

    * (reserve) extra, reserve, spare, standby

    Usage notes

    Back-up'' is an alternative spelling of backup. Both spellings are used as either a noun or an adjective. The verb ''back up is always spelled as two words and never with a hyphen.

    auxiliary

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Helping]]; [[give, giving assistance or support.
    • auxiliary troops
  • Supplementary or subsidiary.
  • Held in reserve for exceptional circumstances.
  • (nautical) Of a ship, having both sails and an engine.
  • (grammar) Relating to an auxiliary verb.

    • Synonyms

    * (supplementary) accessory * (having sails and engine) motorsailer

    Noun

    (auxiliaries)
  • A person or group that acts in an auxiliary manner.
  • A sailing vessel equipped with an engine.
  • (grammar) An auxiliary verb.
  • *
    • The three traditionally recognized Non-modal Auxiliaries' are the per-
    fective '''Auxiliary''' ''have'', the progressive '''Auxiliary''' ''be'', and the passive '''Auxiliary
    ''be''. Perfective ''have'' is so-called because it marks the completion (hence, ''perfec-
    tion'') of an action; it is followed by a VP headed by a perfective ''-n'' participle, as
    in:
    (121)    The referee has [VP ''shown     him the red card]
  • A marching band colorguard.

    • Related terms

    * auction * auctioneer * augment * augmentation

    See also

    * axillary

    External links

    * *