[ rɪ'və:s ]
■ verb
1》 move backwards.
↘(of an engine) work in a contrary direction.
2》 turn the other way round or up or inside out.
3》 make the opposite of what it was: the damage done to the ozone layer may be ~d.
↘swap (positions or functions).
4》 Law revoke or annul (a judgement by a lower court or authority).
■ adjective
1》 going in or turned towards the opposite direction.
↘operating or behaving in a way opposite to that which is usual or expected.
2》 Geology denoting a fault in which a relative downward movement occurred in the strata on the underside of the fault plane.
■ noun
1》 a complete change of direction or action.
↘ American Football a play in which the direction of attack is ~d.
2》 ~ gear.
3》 ( the ~ ) the opposite to that previously stated.
4》 a setback or defeat.
5》 the opposite side or face to the observer.
↘a left-hand page of an open book, or the back of a loose document.
↘the side of a coin or medal bearing the value or secondary design.
Phrases
~ arms hold a rifle with the butt upwards.
~ the charges make the recipient of a telephone call responsible for payment.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~r noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. revers , ~ (n.), ~r (v.), from L. revers- , revertere 'turn back'.