English Dictionary

Definition of “reverse”

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reverse (rɪˈvɜːsPronunciation for reverse) 

Definitions

verb (mainly tr)

  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 intr) 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. See reverse arms
  9. See reverse the charge

noun

  1. the opposite or contrary of something
  2. the back or rear side of something
  3. a change to an opposite position, state, or direction
  4. a change for the worse; setback or defeat
    1. the mechanism or gears by which machinery, a vehicle, etc, can be made to reverse its direction
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ reverse gear 
  6. the side of a coin bearing a secondary design Compare obverse (sense 5)
    1. printed matter in which normally black or coloured areas, esp lettering, appear white, and vice versa
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ reverse plates 
  8. See in reverse
  9. See the reverse of

adjective

  1. opposite or contrary in direction, position, order, nature, etc; turned backwards
  2. back to front; inverted
  3. operating or moving in a manner contrary to that which is usual
  4. denoting or relating to a mirror image

Alternative Forms

reˈversely adverb reˈverser noun

Word Origin

C14: from Old French, from Latin reversus , from revertere to turn back

Translations

  • British English: reverse Pronunciation for reverse If your car is in reverse, you have changed gear so that you can drive it backwards.He put the car in reverse.rɪˈvɜːs NOUN He put the car in reverse.
  • Spanish: revés Pronunciation for revés nm
  • French: marche arrière Pronunciation for marche arrière nf
  • German: Gegenteil Pronunciation for Gegenteil nnt
  • Chinese: 倒退挡Pronunciation for 倒退挡 n
  • Arabic: تِرْسٌ عَاكِسPronunciation for تِرْسٌ عَاكِس n
  • Portuguese: reversoPronunciation for reverso nm
  • Russian: реверсPronunciation for реверс nm
  • Croatian: naličjePronunciation for naličje nnt
  • Czech: opakPronunciation for opak nm
  • Danish: bagsidePronunciation for bagside nutr
  • Dutch: keerzijdePronunciation for keerzijde n
  • Finnish: vastakohtaPronunciation for vastakohta n
  • Greek: όπισθενPronunciation for όπισθεν nf
  • Italian: contrarioPronunciation for contrario nm
  • Japanese: 逆Pronunciation for 逆 n
  • Korean: 반대Pronunciation for 반대 n
  • Norwegian: omvendingPronunciation for omvending nm
  • Polish: odwrotnośćPronunciation for odwrotność nf
  • Brazilian Portuguese: marcha atrásPronunciation for marcha atrás nf
  • European Spanish: revés Pronunciation for revés nm
  • Swedish: motsatsPronunciation for motsats nutr
  • Thai: ด้านตรงข้ามPronunciation for ด้านตรงข้าม n
  • Turkish: geri dönmePronunciation for geri dönme n
  • Vietnamese: điều trái ngượcPronunciation for điều trái ngược n
  • British English: reverse Pronunciation for reverse To reverse a process, decision, or policy means to change it to its opposite.The Government has had to reverse its policy.rɪˈvɜːs VERB The Government has had to reverse its policy.
  • Spanish: invertir Pronunciation for invertir v
  • French: inverser Pronunciation for inverser vt
  • German: umkehren Pronunciation for umkehren v
  • Chinese: 颠倒Pronunciation for 颠倒 v
  • Arabic: يَقْلِبُPronunciation for يَقْلِبُ v
  • Portuguese: inverterPronunciation for inverter v
  • Russian: разворачиватьPronunciation for разворачивать v
  • Croatian: okrenutiPronunciation for okrenuti v
  • Czech: převrátitPronunciation for převrátit v převracet
  • Danish: ændrePronunciation for ændre v
  • Dutch: achteruitrijdenPronunciation for achteruitrijden v
  • Finnish: vaihtaa suuntaaPronunciation for vaihtaa suuntaa v
  • Greek: αντιστρέφωPronunciation for αντιστρέφω v
  • Italian: invertirePronunciation for invertire v
  • Japanese: 逆にするPronunciation for 逆にする v
  • Korean: 거꾸로 하다Pronunciation for 거꾸로 하다 v
  • Norwegian: omgjørePronunciation for omgjøre v
  • Polish: odwrócićPronunciation for odwrócić v odwracać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: inverterPronunciation for inverter v
  • European Spanish: invertir Pronunciation for invertir v
  • Swedish: backaPronunciation for backa v
  • Thai: ถอยกลับPronunciation for ถอยกลับ v
  • Turkish: geri dönmekPronunciation for geri dönmek v
  • Vietnamese: đảo ngượcPronunciation for đảo ngược v

Usage examples

  • Pull forward a hundred feet or so, then cast loose the anchor rope and reverse to come back to position.
    Arthur, Robert, Three in One (1993)
  • The report also shows that much more effort is needed to reverse the declines of around half of our most threatened species.
    Country Life (2004)
  • McClaren, believes this reverse will bring his players back to earth.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Defeat in the CIS League Cup semi-final, another at Parkhead, and a 3-0 reverse at Ibrox completed last season.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • A more sophisticated type of filter called a reverse osmosis system can be fitted to your mains water system at home.
    Colette Harris, With Theresa Cheung, PCOS DIET BOOK: How you can use the nutritional approach to deal with polycystic ovary syndrome (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'R'

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