adj. & n.
adj. inverted in position, order, or relation.
n. 1 the state of being inverted. 2 (often foll. by of) a thing that is the opposite or reverse of another. 3 Math. an element which, when combined with a given element in an operation, produces the identity element for that operation. inverse proportion (or ratio) a relation between two quantities such that one increases in proportion as the other decreases. inverse square law a law by which the intensity of an effect, such as gravitational force, illumination, etc., changes in inverse proportion to the square of the distance from the source. inversely adv.
[ L inversus past part. of invertere: see INVERT ]