fallback

1. (countable, uncountable)An act of falling back.

   A failure of one of the rocket's first-stage engines just after liftoff would result in a destructive pad fallback.

   The black hole formed as a result of fallback of ejecta onto the neutron star initially created by the supernova explosion.

2. (countable, uncountable)A backup plan or contingency strategy; an alternative which can be used if something goes wrong with the main plan; a recourse.

   As a fallback, I suppose we can use typewriters if the word processing system fails.

   Plan B

3. (countable, uncountable)A reduction in bitumen softening point, sometimes called refluxing or overheating, in a relatively closed container.

4. (countable, uncountable)Pulverised material that falls back to earth after a nuclear explosion; fallout.

regular

• fall-backalternative