Word.ws English Dictionary

backprime

backprime noun: the ⟨‵⟩ or ⟨`⟩ symbol; a reversed prime.

Noun

backprime (plural backprimes)

  1. The ⟨‵⟩ or ⟨`⟩ symbol; a reversed prime.
    • The echo and sed commands appear within backprimes (`) that indicate command substitution: The result of executing the commands within the backprimes replaces the backprimes and everything between them.1997, Mark G. Sobell, “The TC Shell”, in A Practical Guide to Linux, Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, →ISBN, page 440
    • Since deformation manifests itself as a change in the metric characteristics of continuum, in the theory of finite deformations, it is then necessary to compare the referential ‵g_(ασ) and the convective g_(ασ) metrics. We systematically employ Latin indices in order to refer to spatial components...2023, Yuri N. Radayev, “Two-Point Rotations in Geometry of Finite Deformations”, in Holm Altenbach, Suren Manuk Mkhitaryan, Vahram Hakobyan, Avetik Varazdat Sahakyan, editors, Solid Mechanics, Theory...

Verb

backprime (third-person singular simple present backprimes, present participle backpriming, simple past and past participle backprimed)

  1. (transitive) To add (a secondary infusion) to a patient by priming it with fluid from the primary infusion.
    • Hang and adjust the rate or set the infusion pump as indicated. If using an infusion pump, follow the specific manufacturer's guidelines to backprime the secondary set.2010, Linda Laskowski-Jones, Alexandra Falkowski, “Infusion Therapy”, in Donna D. Ignatavicius, M. Linda Workman, editors, Medical-Surgical Nursing: Patient-Centered Collaborative Care, 6th edition...
  2. (transitive) To apply a layer of primer to the back side of (a surface).
    • I'm assuming a well-built building, with clear pine trim and vertical-grain red cedar clapboards. The first step is to backprime the trim and siding. Backpriming is simply painting the back of the boards — the side against the house — with oil-base primer before they are installed.1992, Jim Locke, The Well-Built House, Revised edition, New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, →ISBN, page 262
    • One of the best ways to control wood movement and prevent splitting, warping, and shrinking is to backprime it (coat the back surfaces with either primer paint or stain) before installation.2008, Clayton DeKorne, Ted Cushman, “Appendix A: Selecting Trim Materials”, in Finish Carpentry, Newton, CT: Taunton Press, →ISBN, page 218

Forms of backprime

Noun
pluralbackprimes
alternative formback prime
Verb
third-person singular presentbackprimes
present participlebackpriming
past participlebackprimed
pastbackprimed

Origin of backprime

From back + prime (“the ⟨′⟩ symbol”), compare backslash.

From back + prime (“to prepare a mechanism for its main work; to apply a coat of primer paint to”).

Questions about backprime

What does backprime mean?
Backprime means the ⟨‵⟩ or ⟨`⟩ symbol; a reversed prime.
What part of speech is backprime?
Backprime can be a noun or a verb.
What is the plural of backprime?
The plural of backprime is backprimes.

Words near backprime in the dictionary

  1. backports
  2. backpost
  3. backposts
  4. backpressure
  5. backpressures
  6. backprime
  7. backprimed
  8. backprimes
  9. backpriming
  10. backprimings
  11. backprint

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: backprime (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “backprime.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/backprime. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.