英文字典中文字典51ZiDian.com

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.
[1913 Webster]

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]