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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Reverse \Re*verse"\ (r[-e]*v[~e]rs"), 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.
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He did so with the reverse of the lance. --Sir W.
Scott.
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2. That which is directly opposite or contrary to something
else; a contrary; an opposite. --Chaucer.
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And then mistook reverse of wrong for right. --Pope.
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To make everything the reverse of what they have
seen, is quite as easy as to destroy. --Burke.
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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.
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The strange reverse of fate you see;
I pitied you, now you may pity me. --Dryden.
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By a reverse of fortune, Stephen becomes rich.
--Lamb.
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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}.
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5. A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand;
a backhanded stroke. [Obs.] --Shak.
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6. (Surg.) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the
direction of the bandage is changed.
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Reverse \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.
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2. Turned upside down; greatly disturbed. [Obs.]
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He found the sea diverse
With many a windy storm reverse. --Gower.
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3. (Bot. & Zool.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell.
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{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.
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Reverse \Re*verse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reversed}
(r[-e]*v[~e]rst");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.
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And that old dame said many an idle verse,
Out of her daughter's heart fond fancies to reverse.
--Spenser.
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2. To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.]
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And to his fresh remembrance did reverse
The ugly view of his deformed crimes. --Spenser.
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3. To change totally; to alter to the opposite.
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Reverse the doom of death. --Shak.
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She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of
Bray. --Sir W.
Scott.
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4. To turn upside down; to invert.
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A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if
balanced by admirable skill. --Sir W.
Temple.
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5. Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.
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These can divide, and these reverse, the state.
--Pope.
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Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good
and evil. --Rogers.
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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.
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{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 {To reverse a machine}, to cause it
to perform its revolutions or action in the opposite
direction.
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Syn: To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert;
repeal; annul; revoke; undo.
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Reverse \Re*verse"\, v. i.
1. To return; to revert. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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2. To become or be reversed.
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