reverse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a relation of direct opposition
    contrary; opposite.
    • we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true
  2. noun the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed
    reverse gear.
  3. noun an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
    blow; setback; reversal; black eye.
  4. noun the side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal design
    verso.
  5. noun (American football) a running play in which a back running in one direction hands the ball to a back running in the opposite direction
  6. noun turning in the opposite direction
    reversion; turnaround; reversal; turnabout.
  7. verb change to the contrary
    turn; change by reversal.
    • 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
  8. verb turn inside out or upside down
    turn back; invert.
  9. verb rule against
    override; overturn; overrule; overthrow.
    • The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill
  10. verb cancel officially
    annul; revoke; countermand; lift; vacate; overturn; repeal; rescind.
    • He revoked the ban on smoking
    • lift an embargo
    • vacate a death sentence
  11. verb reverse the position, order, relation, or condition of
    invert.
    • when forming a question, invert the subject and the verb
  12. adjective satellite directed or moving toward the rear
    rearward.
    • a rearward glance
    • a rearward movement
  13. adjective of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle
    • in reverse gear
  14. adjective satellite reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect
    inverse.

WordNet

Re*verse" adjective
Etymology
OE. revers, OF. revers, L. reversus, p. p. of revertere. See Revert.
Definitions
  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. & Zoöl.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell.
Re*verse" noun
Etymology
Cf. F. revers. See Reverse, a.
Definitions
  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" transitive verb
Etymology
See Reverse, a., and cf. Revert.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Reversed ;present participle & verbal noun Reversing
Definitions
  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. Syn. -- To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert; repeal; annul; revoke; undo.
Re*verse" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To return; to revert. Obs. Spenser.
  2. To become or be reversed.

Webster 1913