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Backing vs Backup - What's the difference?

backing | backup |

As nouns the difference between backing and backup

is that backing is support, especially financial while backup is a reserve or substitute.

As adjectives the difference between backing and backup

is that backing is (music) that which provides support for the main performer while backup is standby, reserve or extra.

As a verb backing

is .

backing

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Support, especially financial.
    • It's a volunteer organization that works with backing from the city and a few grants.
  • A liner or other material added behind or underneath.
    • The cardboard backing gives the notebook a little extra stiffness.
  • (music) Musicians and vocalists who support the main performer

    • Adjective

    (-)
  • (music) That which provides support for the main performer

    • Verb

    (head)

    • 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.