1. (a.) Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction; hence; opposite or contrary in kind; as, the reverse order or method.

2. (a.) Turned upside down; greatly disturbed.

3. (a.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell.

4. (a.) 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.

5. (a.) That which is directly opposite or contrary to something else; a contrary; an opposite.

6. (n.) 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.

7. (n.) 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.

8. (n.) A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand; a backhanded stroke.

9. (n.) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the direction of the bandage is changed.

10. (v.) To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to cause to depart.

11. (v.) To cause to return; to recall.

12. (v.) To change totally; to alter to the opposite.

13. (v.) To turn upside down; to invert.

14. (a.) Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.

15. (v.) To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to under or annual for error; as, to reverse a judgment, sentence, or decree.

16. (v. i.) To return; to revert.

17. (v. i.) To become or be reversed.

Thesaurus Entries