Inversion

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Inversion \In*ver"sion\, n. [L. inversio: cf. F. inversion. See
     {Invert}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The act of inverting, or turning over or backward, or the
        state of being inverted.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. A change by inverted order; a reversed position or
        arrangement of things; transposition.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              It is just the inversion of an act of Parliament;
              your lordship first signed it, and then it was
              passed among the Lords and Commons.   --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Mil.) A movement in tactics by which the order of
        companies in line is inverted, the right being on the
        left, the left on the right, and so on.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Math.) A change in the order of the terms of a
        proportion, so that the second takes the place of the
        first, and the fourth of the third.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Geom.) A peculiar method of transformation, in which a
        figure is replaced by its inverse figure. Propositions
        that are true for the original figure thus furnish new
        propositions that are true in the inverse figure. See
        {Inverse figures}, under {Inverse}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Gram.) A change of the usual order of words or phrases;
        as, "of all vices, impurity is one of the most
        detestable," instead of, "impurity is one of the most
        detestable of all vices."
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. (Rhet.) A method of reasoning in which the orator shows
        that arguments advanced by his adversary in opposition to
        him are really favorable to his cause.
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     8. (Mus.)
        (a) Said of intervals, when the lower tone is placed an
            octave higher, so that fifths become fourths, thirds
            sixths, etc.
        (b) Said of a chord, when one of its notes, other than its
            root, is made the bass.
        (c) Said of a subject, or phrase, when the intervals of
            which it consists are repeated in the contrary
            direction, rising instead of falling, or vice versa.
        (d) Said of double counterpoint, when an upper and a lower
            part change places.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     9. (Geol.) The folding back of strata upon themselves, as by
        upheaval, in such a manner that the order of succession
        appears to be reversed.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     10. (Chem.) The act or process by which cane sugar (sucrose),
         under the action of heat and acids or enzymes (as
         diastase), is broken or split up into grape sugar
         (dextrose), and fruit sugar (levulose); also, less
         properly, the process by which starch is converted into
         grape sugar (dextrose).
         [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The terms invert and inversion, in this sense, owe
           their meaning to the fact that the plane of
           polarization of light, which is rotated to the right by
           cane sugar, is turned toward the left by levulose.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     11. (Meteorology) A reversal of the usual temperature
         gradient of the atmosphere, in which the temperature
         increases with increased altitude, rather than falling.
         Called also temperature inversion.
  
     Note: This condition in the vicinity of cities can give rise
           to a severe episode of atmospheric pollution, as it
           inhibits normal circulation of the air.
           [PJC]
  
     12. (Electricity) The conversion of direct current into
         alternating current; the inverse of rectification. See
         {inverted rectifier}.
         [PJC]
  
     13. (Genetics) A portion of the genome in which the DNA has
         been turned around, and runs in a direction opposite to
         its normal direction, and consequently the genes are
         present in the reverse of their usual order.
         [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  inversion
       n 1: the layer of air near the earth is cooler than an overlying
            layer
       2: abnormal condition in which an organ is turned inward or
          inside out (as when the upper part of the uterus is pulled
          into the cervical canal after childbirth)
       3: a chemical process in which the direction of optical
          rotation of a substance is reversed from dextrorotatory to
          levorotary or vice versa
       4: (genetics) a kind of mutation in which the order of the
          genes in a section of a chromosome is reversed
       5: the reversal of the normal order of words [syn: {anastrophe}]
       6: (counterpoint) a variation of a melody or part in which ll
          ascending intervals are replaced by descending intervals
          and vice versa
       7: a term formerly used to mean taking on the gender role of
          the opposite sex [syn: {sexual inversion}]
       8: turning upside down; setting on end [syn: {upending}]
       9: the act of turning inside out [syn: {eversion}, {everting}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  25 Moby Thesaurus words for "inversion":
     about-face, addition, approximation, differentiation, division,
     equation, evolution, extrapolation, integration, interpolation,
     involution, multiplication, notation, practice, proportion,
     reduction, reversal, reverse, reversion, subtraction,
     transformation, turn, turnabout, turning, volte-face