Definitions for: Reverse


[n] turning in the opposite direction
[n] the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed
[n] the side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal design
[n] an unfortunate happening that hinders of impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
[n] a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
[adj] reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect
[adj] directed or moving toward the rear; "a rearward glance"; "a rearward movement"
[adj] of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle; "in reverse gear"
[v] change to the contrary; "The trend was reversed"; "the tides turned against him"; "public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern"
[v] turn inside out or upside down
[v] rule against; "The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill"
[v] annul by recalling or rescinding; "He revoked the ban on smoking"; "lift an embargo"; "vacate a death sentence"



Webster (1913) Definition: Re*verse", a. [OE. revers, OF. revers, L. reversus, p.
p. of revertere. See Revert.]
1. Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction;
hence; opposite or contrary in kind; as, the reverse order
or method. ``A vice reverse unto this.'' --Gower.

2. Turned upside down; greatly disturbed. [Obs.]

He found the sea diverse With many a windy storm
reverse. --Gower.

3. (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell.

Reverse bearing (Surv.), the bearing of a back station as
observed from the station next in advance.

Reverse curve (Railways), a curve like the letter S, formed
of two curves bending in opposite directions.

Reverse fire (Mil.), a fire in the rear.

Reverse operation (Math.), an operation the steps of which
are taken in a contrary order to that in which the same or
similar steps are taken in another operation considered as
direct; an operation in which that is sought which in
another operation is given, and that given which in the
other is sought; as, finding the length of a pendulum from
its time of vibration is the reverse operation to finding
the time of vibration from the length.


Re*verse", n. [Cf. F. revers. See Reverse, a.]
1. That which appears or is presented when anything, as a
lance, a line, a course of conduct, etc., is reverted or
turned contrary to its natural direction.

He did so with the reverse of the lance. --Sir W.
Scott.

2. That which is directly opposite or contrary to something
else; a contrary; an opposite. --Chaucer.

And then mistook reverse of wrong for right. --Pope.

To make everything the reverse of what they have
seen, is quite as easy as to destroy. --Burke.

3. The act of reversing; complete change; reversal; hence,
total change in circumstances or character; especially, a
change from better to worse; misfortune; a check or
defeat; as, the enemy met with a reverse.

The strange reverse of fate you see; I pitied you,
now you may pity me. --Dryden.

By a reverse of fortune, Stephen becomes rich.
--Lamb.

4. The back side; as, the reverse of a drum or trench; the
reverse of a medal or coin, that is, the side opposite to
the obverse. See Obverse.

5. A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand;
a backhanded stroke. [Obs.] --Shak.

6. (Surg.) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the
direction of the bandage is changed.


Re*verse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reversed;p. pr. & vb.
n. Reversing.] [See Reverse, a., and cf. Revert.]
1. To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to
cause to depart.

And that old dame said many an idle verse, Out of
her daughter's heart fond fancies to reverse.
--Spenser.

2. To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.]

And to his fresh remembrance did reverse The ugly
view of his deformed crimes. --Spenser.

3. To change totally; to alter to the opposite.

Reverse the doom of death. --Shak.

She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of
Bray. --Sir W.
Scott.

4. To turn upside down; to invert.

A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if
balanced by admirable skill. --Sir W.
Temple.

5. Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.

These can divide, and these reverse, the state.
--Pope.

Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good
and evil. --Rogers.

6. (Law) To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void;
to under or annual for error; as, to reverse a judgment,
sentence, or decree.

Reverse arms (Mil.), a position of a soldier in which the
piece passes between the right elbow and the body at an
angle of 45[deg], and is held as in the illustration.

To reverse an engine or a machine, to cause it to perform
its revolutions or action in the opposite direction.

Syn: To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert;
repeal; annul; revoke; undo.


Re*verse", v. i.
1. To return; to revert. [Obs.] --Spenser.

2. To become or be reversed.

Synonyms: annul, backward, blow, change by reversal, contrary, countermand, inverse, invert, lift, opposite, override, overrule, overthrow, overturn, overturn, rearward, repeal, rescind, reversal, reversal, reversion, revoke, setback, turn, turnabout, turnaround, vacate, verso

Antonyms: forward, obverse

See Also: about turn, about-face, alter, alternate, auto, automobile, cancel, car, change, change of direction, coin, commutate, commute, correct, cut, deconsecrate, decree, desecrate, desynchronise, desynchronize, exchange, falsify, flip, flip-flop, gear, gear mechanism, go back on, happening, interchange, machine, metamorphose, motorcar, natural event, occurrence, oppositeness, opposition, permute, rectify, regress, renege, renege on, renegue on, reorientation, retrovert, return, revert, right, rule, side, strike down, switch, switch off, switch on, switch over, tack, tail, transfigure, transmogrify, transpose, turn back, turn off, turn on, turn out, turn the tables, turn the tide, undo, u-turn, whammy

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