reverse

[ri-vurs] /rɪˈvɜrs/
adjective
1.
opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or character:
an impression reverse to what was intended; in reverse sequence.
2.
with the back or rear part toward the observer:
the reverse side of a fabric.
3.
pertaining to or producing movement in a mechanism opposite to that made under ordinary running conditions:
a reverse gear; a reverse turbine.
4.
acting in a manner opposite or contrary to that which is usual, as an appliance or apparatus.
5.
noting or pertaining to an image like that seen in a mirror; backward; reversed.
6.
noting or pertaining to printed matter in which what is normally white, as the page of a book, appears as black, and vice versa.
noun
7.
the opposite or contrary of something.
8.
the back or rear of anything.
9.
Numismatics.
  1. the side of a coin, medal, etc., that does not bear the principal design (opposed to obverse).
  2. the side of an ancient coin that was struck by the upper die.
10.
an adverse change of fortune; a misfortune, check, or defeat:
to meet with an unexpected reverse.
11.
Machinery.
  1. the condition of being reversed:
    to throw an engine into reverse.
  2. a reversing mechanism.
12.
Football. a play on offense in which one back running laterally hands the ball to another back who is running in the opposite direction and who then makes either an end run or a cutback.
13.
Bridge. reverse bid.
14.
Printing. printed matter in which areas that normally appear as white are printed in black, and vice versa.
verb (used with object), reversed, reversing.
15.
to turn in an opposite position; transpose:
The printer accidently reversed two chapters of the book.
16.
to turn in the opposite direction; send on the opposite course.
17.
to turn inside out or upside down.
18.
to change the direction of running of (a mechanism).
19.
to cause (a mechanism) to run in a direction opposite to that in which it commonly runs.
20.
to revoke or annul (a decree, judgment, etc.):
to reverse a verdict.
21.
to alter to the opposite in character or tendency; change completely.
22.
to turn in the opposite order:
to reverse the process of evolution.
23.
Printing. to print as a reverse.
verb (used without object), reversed, reversing.
24.
to shift into reverse gear:
The driver drove forward, then reversed.
25.
(of a mechanism) to be reversed.
26.
to turn or move in the opposite or contrary direction, as in dancing.
27.
Bridge. to make a reverse bid.
Origin
1275-1325; (noun) Middle English revers < Old French < Latin reversus, past participle of revertere to revert (see verse); (v.) Middle English reversen < Old French reverser < Late Latin reversāre, frequentative of revertere
Related forms
reversedly
[ri-vur-sid-lee, -vurst-lee] /rɪˈvɜr sɪd li, -ˈvɜrst li/ (Show IPA), adverb
reversely, adverb
reverser, noun
half-reversed, adjective
nonreverse, adjective, noun
nonreversed, adjective
nonreversing, adjective
prereverse, noun, verb (used with object), prereversed, prereversing.
unreversed, adjective
Can be confused
converse, inverse, obverse, reverse (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
1. converse. See opposite. 7. converse, counterpart. 10. mishap, misadventure, affliction. 15, 17. Reverse, invert agree in meaning to change into a contrary position, order, or relation. To reverse is to place or move something so that it is facing in the opposite direction from the one faced previously: to reverse from right to left; to reverse a decision. To invert is to turn upside down: to invert a stamp in printing; to invert a bowl over a plate. 20. repeal, veto, countermand, rescind, overthrow.
Antonyms
1. same.
Examples from the web for reverse
  • Then, turn the page and follow a reverse-chronological illustrated time line of science and technology.
  • But if you have a picture of detailed vegetation, and it looks better backwards, you should reverse it.
  • Select the best format for your qualifications and experience: reverse chronological, functional, or a combination.
  • Plenty of emerging-market companies are flourishing without either reverse innovation or frugal production.
  • Finally, the gravity waves would become attractive and reverse.
  • If a relatively new practice called reverse trick-or-treating catches on, such scheming could be unnecessary.
  • Baker notes that the reverse is often true for interiors.
  • reverse camber rocker makes it almost impossible slip out or catch a stray edge-even in the frostiest conditions.
  • When rats pause in running through a maze, they play back their memory of points along their route, but in reverse order.
  • They have made no effort to reverse this trend by increasing the size of their student populations.
British Dictionary definitions for reverse

reverse

/rɪˈvɜːs/
verb (mainly transitive)
1.
to turn or set in an opposite direction, order, or position
2.
to change into something different or contrary; alter completely: reverse one's policy
3.
(also intransitive) to move or cause to move backwards or in an opposite direction: to reverse a car
4.
to run (machinery, etc) in the opposite direction to normal
5.
to turn inside out
6.
(law) to revoke or set aside (a judgment, decree, etc); annul
7.
(often foll by out) to print from plates so made that white lettering or design of (a page, text, display, etc) appears on a black or coloured background
8.
(military) reverse arms, to turn one's arms upside down, esp as a token of mourning
9.
reverse the charge, reverse the charges, to make a telephone call at the recipient's expense
noun
10.
the opposite or contrary of something
11.
the back or rear side of something
12.
a change to an opposite position, state, or direction
13.
a change for the worse; setback or defeat
14.
  1. the mechanism or gears by which machinery, a vehicle, etc, can be made to reverse its direction
  2. (as modifier): reverse gear
15.
the side of a coin bearing a secondary design Compare obverse (sense 5)
16.
  1. printed matter in which normally black or coloured areas, esp lettering, appear white, and vice versa
  2. (as modifier): reverse plates
17.
in reverse, in an opposite or backward direction
18.
the reverse of, emphatically not; not at all: he was the reverse of polite when I called
adjective
19.
opposite or contrary in direction, position, order, nature, etc; turned backwards
20.
back to front; inverted
21.
operating or moving in a manner contrary to that which is usual
22.
denoting or relating to a mirror image
Derived Forms
reversely, adverb
reverser, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin reversus, from revertere to turn back
Word Origin and History for reverse
adj.

c.1300, from Old French revers "reverse, cross, opposite" (13c.), from Latin reversus, past participle of revertere "turn back, turn about, come back, return" (see revert). Reverse angle in film-making is from 1934. Reverse discrimination is attested from 1962, American English.

n.

mid-14c., "opposite or contrary" (of something), from reverse (adj.) or from Old French Related: revers "the opposite, reverse." Meaning "a defeat, a change of fortune" is from 1520s; meaning "back side of a coin" is from 1620s. Of gear-shifts in motor cars, from 1875. As a type of sports play (originally rugby) it is recorded from 1921.

v.

early 14c. (transitive), "change, alter;" early 15c. (intransitive), "go backward," from Old French reverser "reverse, turn around; roll, turn up" (12c.), from Late Latin reversare "turn about, turn back," frequentative of Latin revertere (see revert). Related: Reversed; reversing.