BACKSTOP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does backstop mean? 

• BACKSTOP (noun)
  The noun BACKSTOP has 3 senses:

1. (baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher

2. (baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field

3. a precaution in case of an emergency

  Familiarity information: BACKSTOP used as a noun is uncommon.

• BACKSTOP (verb)
  The verb BACKSTOP has 1 sense:

1. act as a backstop

  Familiarity information: BACKSTOP used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BACKSTOP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

backstop; catcher

Hypernyms ("backstop" is a kind of...):

infielder ((baseball) a person who plays a position in the infield)

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

softball; softball game (a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger and softer)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("backstop" is a kind of...):

fence; fencing (a barrier that serves to enclose an area)

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

Derivation:

backstop (act as a backstop)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A precaution in case of an emergency

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he acted as a backstop in case anything went wrong

Hypernyms ("backstop" is a kind of...):

guard; precaution; safeguard (a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.)

• BACKSTOP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they backstop    ... he / she / it backstops   
Past simple: backstopped   
Past participle: backstopped   
-ing form: backstopping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act as a backstop

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "backstop" is one way to...):

play (participate in games or sport)

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

backstop ((baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field)

 Context examples 

It holds enough ice to raise the world ocean a little over 2 feet (65 centimeters) and backstops neighboring glaciers that would raise sea levels an additional 8 feet (2.4 meters) if all the ice were lost.

(Huge Cavity in Antarctic Glacier Signals Rapid Decay, NASA)