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Backup vs Tar - What's the difference?

backup | tar |

As a noun backup

is a reserve or substitute.

As an adjective backup

is standby, reserve or extra.

As a proper noun tar is

a village in hungary.

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.

    tar

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at tree.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (uncountable) A black, oily, sticky, viscous substance, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons derived from organic materials such as wood, peat, or coal.
  • Coal tar.
  • (uncountable) A solid residual byproduct of tobacco smoke.
  • (slang, dated) A sailor, because of their tarpaulin clothes. Also Jack Tar.
    • (Jonathan Swift)
  • black tar, a form of heroin
    • Derived terms
    * coal tar * mineral tar * tar board * Tar Heel * tar water * tarmacadam, tarmac * tarpaulin * wood tar

    Verb

  • To coat with tar.
  • To besmirch.
    • Although he was found innocent, the allegations had tarred his name.
    Derived terms
    * tar and feather * tar with the same brush

    Etymology 2

    Abbreviation of tape archive .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (computing) A program for archiving files, common on Unix.
  • (computing) A file produced by such a program.
    • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Verb

  • (computing) To create a tar archive.
    • Antonyms
    *

    Anagrams

    * * *

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (musical instruments) a Persian long-necked, waisted instrument, shared by many cultures and countries in the Middle East and the Caucasus