English

Noun

callback ‎(plural callbacks)

1. The return of a situation to a previous position or state.
2. (telephony) A return telephone or radio call; especially one made automatically to authenticate a logon to a computer network.
   • 2007, James M. Lepkowski, Clyde Tucker, J. Michael Brick, Advances in Telephone Survey Methodology (page 318)

     For example, multiple callbacks might be made to a nonanswered number to increase the response rate.

3. A product recall because of a defect or safety concern.
4. (programming) A function pointer passed to another function that the latter can call for notification purposes.
5. (theater) a follow-up audition (casting)
6. (comedy) a joke which references an earlier joke in the same routine
   • 2012 August 21, Jason Heller, “The Darkness: Hot Cakes (Music Review)”, in The Onion AV Club:

     When the album succeeds, such as on the swaggering, Queen-esque “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us,” it does so on The Darkness’ own terms—that is, as a random ’80s-cliché generator. But with so many tired, lazy callbacks to its own threadbare catalog (including “Love Is Not The Answer,” a watery echo of the epic “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” from 2003’s Permission To Land), Hot Cakes marks the point where The Darkness has stopped cannibalizing the golden age of stadium rock and simply started cannibalizing itself. And, despite Hawkins’ inveterate crotch-grabbing, there was never that much meat there to begin with.

Translations

Related terms

• call back

Synonyms

• (joke): running gag