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Backup vs Pickup - What's the difference?

backup | pickup |

As nouns the difference between backup and pickup

is that backup is a reserve or substitute while pickup is a car with a loading space; pickup truck.

As an adjective backup

is standby, reserve or extra.

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.

    pickup

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An electronic device for detecting sound, vibration, etc., such as one fitted to an electric guitar or record player.
  • # In a record player, an electromagnetic component that converts the needle vibrations into an electrical signal.
  • (US, Canada) A pickup truck.
  • (usually, attributive) Impromptu or ad hoc, especially of sports games.
    • Rather than join a basketball league, James decided to play pick up .
    At lunch we had a game of pickup hockey.
  • An instance of approaching someone and engaging in romantic flirtation and courting with the intent to pursue romance, a date, or a sexual encounter. See also pick-up line', '''pick-up joint''', ' pickup artist .
    • Hey, thanks for the drink, but if this is a pickup , I'm not interested.
  • (video games) An item that can be picked up by the player, conferring some benefit or effect; a power-up.
  • (US, Canada) The act of a challenging party or candidate winning an electoral district held by an incumbent party or candidate. See also gain
    • The returns from the election show Apple Party candidate Jane Doe has made a pickup in the district of City West defeating Orange Party Incumbent Joe Smith
  • The act of answering a telephone.
  • * 2006 , Georgina Spelvin, The Devil Made Me Do It , Little Red Hen Books (2008), ISBN 978-0-6151-9907-8, page 224:
    • That's why the phone at the theater's on automatic pickup .
  • (film) A relatively minor shot filmed or recorded after the fact to augment previous footage.
  • The act of collecting and taking away something or someone, usually in a vehicle. The time the act occurs.

    • Descendants

    * Chinese: *: Mandarin: * Finnish: (l) * French: * German: * Indonesian: (l) * Japanese: * Khmer: * Portuguese: * Russian: * Spanish: (Guatemala) * Thai: ----