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Backfill vs Restore - What's the difference?

backfill | restore |

As verbs the difference between backfill and restore

is that backfill is to refill a hole with the material dug out of it while restore is to reestablish, or bring back into existence.

As nouns the difference between backfill and restore

is that backfill is the material that has been used to refill an excavation while restore is the act of recovering data or a system from a backup.

backfill

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To refill a hole with the material dug out of it.
  • (archaeology) To refill an excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and or to preserve the unit and make it recognizable as having been excavated.
  • * We backfilled the cistern with pea gravel to discourage its use as a refuse container.
  • (US) To provide reserve support.
  • (US) To replenish or restock due to attrition or loss.
    • The company backfilled Joe's position after he was terminated.

    Noun

  • The material that has been used to refill an excavation.
  • (US) Reserve support personnel.
  • (US) That which backfills; a replacement.
  • (literature) Material in a story set earlier in the past, providing history or context for the current action.

    • restore

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (computing) The act of recovering data or a system from a backup.

    • Verb

    (restor)
  • To reestablish, or bring back into existence.
    • to restore harmony among those who are at variance
    He restored my lost faith in him by doing a good deed.
  • To bring back to a previous condition or state.
  • * Bible, Mark iii. 5
    • and his hand was restored whole as the other
  • * Prior
    • our fortune restored after the severest afflictions
  • To give or bring back (that which has been lost or taken); to bring back to the owner; to replace.
  • * Bible, Genesis xx. 7
    • Now therefore restore the man his wife.
  • * Milton
    • Loss of Eden, till one greater man / Restore us, and regain the blissful seat.
  • * Dryden
    • The father banished virtue shall restore .
  • To give in place of, or as restitution for.
  • * Bible, Exodus xxii. 1
    • He shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
  • (computing) To recover (data, etc.) from a backup.
    • There was a crash last night, and we're still restoring the file system.
  • (obsolete) To make good; to make amends for.
  • * Shakespeare
    • But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, / All losses are restored , and sorrows end.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * restoration * restorer

    Anagrams

    * English transitive verbs