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Backup vs Server - What's the difference?

backup | server |

As nouns the difference between backup and server

is that backup is a reserve or substitute while server is server (a computer or software that provides services to other programs or users).

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.

    server

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who serves; a waitress or waiter.
  • A tray for dishes; a salver.
  • (computing) A program which provides services to other programs or users, either in the same computer or over a computer network.
  • (senseid)(computing) A computer dedicated to running such programs.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-14, author=(Jonathan Freedland)
    • , volume=189, issue=1, page=18, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Obama's once hip brand is now tainted , passage=Now we are liberal with our innermost secrets, spraying them into the public ether with a generosity our forebears could not have imagined. Where we once sent love letters in a sealed envelope, or stuck photographs of our children in a family album, now such private material is despatched to servers and clouds operated by people we don't know and will never meet.}}

    Usage notes

    * Some prefer (term) to (waiter) or (waitress) because it is unisex.

    Derived terms

    * fileserver * microserver * miniserver * serverless * timeserver

    Antonyms

    * client

    Anagrams

    * * English politically correct terms ----