I. ə̇nˈvər]t, -və̄], -vəi], usu ]d.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin invertere, from in- in- (II) + vertere to turn — more at worth
transitive verb
1.
a. : to turn inside out or upside down
the magician inverts the bag to show it is empty
the gardener inverts a bell jar over his rose cutting
specifically : to print (a part of a stamp or an overprint) upside down
b. : to turn inward
when a foot is inverted its forepart tends to approach the midline of the body — Journal American Medical Association
2. : to reverse in position, order, or relationship
both poems invert the original affective situation, turning despair into success — Malcolm Brown
in singing the second half of “Ten Little Indians” you invert the numbers
the generality concerning molecular weight may not be inverted, for it is not true that salts with light molecules are invariably salty tasting — F.A.Geldard
specifically : to subject (a melody) to inversion
3.
a. : to subject (as sucrose) to inversion
b. : to change (a crystalline compound) from one polymorphous form to another
intransitive verb
: to undergo inversion
sucrose inverts
the quartz starts to invert to cristobalite — F.H.Norton
II. ˈinˌv- noun
( -s )
: one that is characterized by inversion: as
a. : inverted arch
b. : the lowest point in the internal cross section of an artificial channel
c. : a stamp having an overprint or some portion of its design inverted
d. : homosexual
III. adjective
: subjected to chemical inversion : inverted 3
invert sugar
IV. abbreviation
invertebrate