reverˈsion /-shən/ noun

1. The act or fact of reverting or of returning
2. Anything which reverts or returns
3. The return, or the future possession, of any property after some particular event
4. The property to which one has such a right
5. The right to succeed to possession or office
6. A sum payable upon death
7. That which is left over, remains
8. The process by which a mutant phenotype is restored to normal by another mutation of the same gene (also called back-mutation; biology)

reverˈsional adjective

reverˈsionally adverb

reverˈsionary adjective

Of, relating to, or of the nature of reversion

A person who has a reversion

reverˈsioner noun

A reversionary

reverˈsis noun

An old card game in which the taker of fewest tricks wins

reverˈso noun (pl reverˈsos)

1. A verso
2. A backhanded sword-stroke

reversal colour film noun

Film in which the negative image in the respective colour layers is reversed in processing to give a positive transparency

reverse discrimination or reversed discrimination noun

Discrimination in favour of any group previously discriminated against

reverse engineering noun

The taking apart of a competitor's product to see how it works, eg with a view to copying it or improving on it

reverse gear noun

A gear combination which causes an engine, etc to go in reverse

reverse genetics singular noun

The process of removing a gene from an organism, treating it in a known way, reinserting it, and testing the organism for any altered function

reverse osmosis noun (chem)

Purification of water by forcing it under pressure through a membrane impermeable to the impurities to be removed

reverse pass noun (football)

A pass made when a player runs in one direction and passes in the opposite direction

reverse printer noun (computing)

A bidirectional printer

reverse proxy noun (computing)

A proxy server (qv) which controls access from external users to a group of servers on a network

reverse swing noun (cricket)

A phenomenon that causes a cricket ball that has become roughened on one side to swing in the opposite direction to a new ball

reverse takeover noun (business)

1. One in which the company that has been taken over controls the new organization
2. One in which a smaller company takes over a large company

reverse transcriptase noun

The enzyme in a retrovirus which makes a DNA copy of an RNA genome

reverse yield gap noun (commerce)

The amount by which the average yield on the shares making up the Financial Times ordinary index, or the return on any particular stocks, falls short of the return on 21/2% consolidated annuities

reversible reaction noun

1. A chemical reaction that can occur in both directions and, as a mixture of reactants and reaction products is obtained, is incomplete
2. A chemical reaction that can be made to proceed in one direction or the other by altering the conditions

reversing layer noun

A layer of the sun's chromosphere that reverses bright lines of the spectrum to dark absorption lines

reversing light noun

A light on the back of a motor vehicle which comes on when the vehicle is put into reverse gear, providing illumination for the driver, a warning to other road-users, etc

reversionary bonus noun

A bonus added to the sum payable on death or at the maturation of an insurance policy

go into reverse

1. To engage reverse gear
2. To move backwards

reverse the charges

To charge a telephone call to the person who receives it instead of to the caller