Contextualizebeta

backfill

verb
/ˈbækfɪl/

Etymology

From back + fill.

  1. derived from *pl̥h₁nós✻ — “full”
  2. inherited from *fullijaną✻ — “to make full, fill”
  3. inherited from *fullijan✻
  4. inherited from fyllan — “to fill, fill up, replenish, satisfy; complete, fulfill”
  5. inherited from fillen
  6. formed as backfill — “back + fill”

Definitions

  1. To refill a hole with the material dug out of it.

  2. To refill an excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and/or to preserve the…

    To refill an excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and/or to preserve the unit and make it recognizable as having been excavated.

    • We backfilled the cistern with pea gravel to discourage its use as a refuse container.

  3. To provide reserve support.

  4. ›+ 6 more definitions

    1. To replenish or restock due to attrition or loss.

      • The company backfilled Joe's position after he was terminated.

    2. To enter an online game that's already in progress, replacing a player who left early.

    3. The material that has been used to refill an excavation.

    4. Reserve support personnel.

    5. That which backfills

      That which backfills; a replacement.

    6. Material in a story set earlier in the past, providing history or context for the current…

      Material in a story set earlier in the past, providing history or context for the current action.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for backfill. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA