Webster's English Dictionary

reverse

1. re.verse \ri-'v*rs\ aj [ME revers, fr. MF, fr. L reversus, pp. of 
   revertere to turn]back - more at REVERT 1a: opposite or contrary to a 
   previous or normal condition {~ orde r} 1b: having the back presented to 
   the observer or opponent  2: acting or operating in a manner contrary to 
   the usual  3: effecting reverse movement {~ gear}  4: so made that the part 
   normally black is white and vice versa {~  photoengraving} - re.verse.ly av
2. reverse vt 1a: to turn completely about in position or direction  1b: to 
   turn upside down : INVERT  2: ANNUL : as  2a: to overthrow, set aside, or 
   make void (a legal decision) by a contrary  decision 2b: to cause to take 
   an opposite point of view  2c: to change to the contrary {~ a policy}  3: 
   to cause to go in the opposite direction; esp : to cause (as an  engine) to 
   perform its action in the opposite direction 1: to turn or move in the 
   opposite direction  2: to put a mechanism (as an engine) in reverse pposite 
   position. REVERSE is the most general term and may imply change in order, 
   side, direction, meaning; TRANSPOSE implies a change in order or relative 
   position of units often through exchange of position; INVERT applies 
   chiefly to turning upside down or inside out or less often end for end - 
   re.vers.er n SYN syn REVERSE, TRANSPOSE, INVERT mean to change to the o 
3. reverse n 1: something directly contrary to something else : OPPOSITE  
   2: an act or instance of reversing; specif : a change for the worse  3: the 
   back part of something; esp : VERSO  4a1: a gear that reverses something; 
   also : the whole mechanism bro ught into play when such a gear is used 4a2: 
   movement in reverse  4b: an offensive play in football in which a back 
   moving in one direction g ives the ball to a player moving in the opposite 
   direction