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Backup vs Zip - What's the difference?

backup | zip |

As nouns the difference between backup and zip

is that backup is a reserve or substitute while zip is the high-pitched sound of a small object moving rapidly through air.

As an adjective backup

is standby, reserve or extra.

As an interjection zip is

the high-pitched sound of a small object moving rapidly through air.

As a verb zip is

to close with a zip fastener.

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.

    zip

    English

    Etymology 1

    Onomatopoeic.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The high-pitched sound of a small object moving rapidly through air.
  • Energy; vigor; vim.
  • (British, NZ) A zip fastener.
  • Zero; nothing.
  • A trip on a zipline.
  • (computing, informal) A zip file.
    • Synonyms
    * (sound) whizz, zing * (fastener) slide fastener, zip fastener, zipper (chiefly US )

    Interjection

    (en-interj)!
  • The high-pitched sound of a small object moving rapidly through air.
    • Synonyms
    * whee!, whizz!, zing!

    Verb

  • To close with a zip fastener.
  • (figuratively) To close as if with a zip fastener.
    • zip one's lip
  • (computing) To compress (one or more computer files) into a single and often smaller file, especially one in the ZIP format.
  • (followed by a preposition ) To move rapidly (in a specified direction or to a specified place) with a high-pitched sound.
    • The bullet zipped through the air.
  • (colloquial) (followed by a preposition ) To move in haste (in a specified direction or to a specified place).
    • Zip down to the shops for some milk.
  • To make (something) move quickly
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=December 27 , author=Mike Henson , title=Norwich 0 - 2 Tottenham , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Tottenham also initially struggled to create genuine goal-scoring opportunities, with Bale, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart zipping passes around to little effect.}}
  • To travel on a zipline.
    • Derived terms
    () * unzip * zip- * zip down * Zip drive * zip file * zip-front * zip it * zip one's lip * zip up * zip wire, zip-wire
    Synonyms
    * (close with a zip fastener) zip up

    Etymology 2

    From zip code

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US) Shortened form of ZIP code, the US postal code.
  • (US) Any postal code, for any country.
    • See also
    * postcode (UK ) * postal code (UK )