inverse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun something inverted in sequence or character or effect
    opposite.
    • when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse
  2. adjective satellite reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect
    reverse.
  3. adjective opposite in nature or effect or relation to another quantity
    • a term is in inverse proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other decreases (or increases)

WordNet

In*verse" adjective
Etymology
L. inversus, p. p. of invertere: cf. F. inverse. See Invert.
Definitions
  1. Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed; inverted; reciprocal; -- opposed to direct.
  2. (Bot.) Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment the reverse of that which is usual.
  3. (Math.) Opposite in nature and effect; -- said with reference to any two operations, which, when both are performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to division. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol of the direct operation with -1 as an index. Thus sin-1 x means the arc whose sine is x.
In"verse noun
Definitions
  1. That which is inverse.
    Thus the course of human study is the inverse of the course of things in nature. Tatham.

Webster 1913