Etymology : Latin inversus, from past participle of invertere
Pronunciation : (")in-'v&rs, 'in-"
Function : adjective
Date : 15th century
1. opposite side, reverse, converse, opposite. reversed, inverted, opposite. inverse\in"verse\, n. that which is inverse. thus the course of human study is the inverse of the course of things in nature.inverse \in*verse"\ , a. [l. inversus, p. p. of invertere: cf. f. inverse. see:
invert.].
2. opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed; inverted; reciprocal; -- opposed to direct.
3. (bot.) inverted; having a position or mode of attachment the reverse of that which is usual.
4. (math.) opposite in nature and effect; -- said with reference to any two operations, which, when both are performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to division. the symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol of the direct operation with -1 as an index. thus sin-1 x means the arc whose sine is x.inverse figures (geom.), two figures, such that each point of either figure is inverse to a corresponding point in the order figure.inverse points (geom.), two points lying on a line drawn from the center of a fixed circle or sphere, and so related that the product of their distances from the center of the circle or sphere is equal to the square of the radius.
5. Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed; inverted; reciprocal; opposed to direct.
6. Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment the reverse of that which is usual.
7. Opposite in nature and effect; said with reference to any two operations, which, when both are performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to division.
8. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol of the direct operation with -1 as an index.
9. Thus sin-1 x means the arc whose sine is x.
10. That which is inverse. something inverted in sequence or character or effect; "when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse" reversed in order or nature or effect opposite in nature or effect or relation to another quantity ; "a term is in inverse proportion to another term if it increases as the other decreases ".
11. 1. If there is an inverse relationship between two things, one of them becomes larger as the other becomes smaller. The tension grew in inverse proportion to the distance from their final destination. ¡Ù direct + inversely in·verse·ly The size of the nebula at this stage is inversely proportional to its mass.
12. The inverse of something is its exact opposite. There is no sign that you bothered to consider the inverse of your logic. Inverse is also an adjective. The hologram can be flipped to show the inverse image. the complete opposite of something reverse.