zurückbildet

Zurückbildet is a form of the German verb zurückbilden, derived from zurück- (back, again) and bilden (to form, to shape). In standard German, zurückbilden is a separable verb; in finite clauses the prefix is typically separated, as in er bildet zurück. The base sense of zurückbilden is to restore something to its original form or state, or to revert a process to its prior condition. The form zurückbildet is commonly used in discussion of present-tense third-person singular constructions, though in strict orthography it is usually written as bildet zurück.

Usage and contexts

The term is mainly found in technical, scientific, and fachsprachlich (specialist) writing. In chemistry and biochemistry, zurückbilden describes the reversion of a product to its starting materials under certain conditions. In materials science and physics, it can refer to the recovery of a material’s original shape, structure, or crystalline arrangement after deformation or stimulus. In geology or biology, Rückbildung or zurückbildende Prozesse may describe a partial return toward a prior morphology or organization after disturbance. The reflexive form sich zurückbilden is also used when the system itself re-establishes the original state, for example after removal of stress.

Grammatik

Zurückbilden is a regular separable verb. Present: er bildet zurück; Past participle: zurückgebildet; Simple past is selten used in technical styles. Related terms include Rückbildung (reversion, regression) and Rückführung (reintroduction, retracing).

See also: Rückbildung, Rückführung, Rückreaktion.