invert

[ verb in-vurt; adjective noun in-vurt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to turn upside down.
2. to reverse in position, order, direction, or relationship.
3. to turn or change to the opposite or contrary, as in nature, bearing, or effect:

   to invert a process.

4. to turn inward or back upon itself.
5. to turn inside out.
6. Chemistry. to subject to a reaction in which a starting material of one optical configuration forms a product of the opposite configuration.
7. Music. to subject to musical inversion, the transposition between the upper voice part and the lower.
8. Phonetics. to articulate as a retroflex vowel.

verb (used without object)

1. Chemistry. to undergo a reaction in which a starting material of one optical configuration forms a product of the opposite configuration.

adjective

1. Chemistry. subjected to a reaction in which a starting material of one optical configuration forms a product of the opposite configuration.

noun

1. a person or thing that is reversed in position, changed to the contrary, or turned upside down, inside out, or inward.
2. (in plumbing) that portion of the interior of a drain or sewer pipe where the liquid is deepest.
3. a U-shaped arch or vault, having the opposite vertical orientation compared to a traditional arch or vault.
4. Philately. a two-colored postage stamp with all or part of the central design printed upside down in relation to the inscription.
5. Psychiatry. (no longer in technical use)
   1. a gay person.
   2. a person whose behavior is considered nonnormative for their assigned sex, historically involving both gender non-conforming or transgender expression and gay or lesbian sexual orientation.
6. Disparaging and Offensive. anyone whose sexuality or gender expression is regarded as strange or unnatural, especially a gay or transgender person.
7. Informal. (especially among aquarists) invertebrate:

   My invert tank is mostly sea slugs, but I bought a couple of shrimp recently also.

invert

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn upside down or inside out
2. tr to reverse in effect, sequence, direction, etc
3. tr phonetics
   1. to turn (the tip of the tongue) up and back
   2. to pronounce (a speech sound) by retroflexion
4. logic to form the inverse of a categorial proposition

noun

1. psychiatry
   1. a person who adopts the role of the opposite sex
   2. another word for homosexual
2. architect
   1. the lower inner surface of a drain, sewer, etc Compare soffit
   2. an arch that is concave upwards, esp one used in foundations

Derived Forms

• inˈvertible, adjective
• inˌvertiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• in·vert·i·ble adjective
• non·in·vert·ed adjective
• un·in·vert·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invert¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin invertere “to turn upside down or inside out,” equivalent to in- “in” + vertere “to turn”; in- ², verse

Word History and Origins

Origin of invert¹

C16: from Latin invertere, from in- ² + vertere to turn

Synonym Study

See reverse.

Example Sentences

The 32-ounce bottle has an interior stainless-steel filter that extends from the lid to the bottom of the bottle, plus a removable lid, which turns into a pour-over filter when inverted.

From Outside Online

The best leaf vacuum available generally provides the standard features of a leaf blower while offering the ability to invert airflow to collect leaves in an attached bag for storage and removal.

From Popular-Science

A decade later, PLA politics have almost completely inverted.

From Voice of San Diego

Many of the lids actually are just inverted bowls, which can be conveniently used for holding the pickles as you ladle them out.

From Eater

Let the cake cool in the skillet for 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.

From Washington Post

Just take reality, invert it, and that's what Romney is likely to say.

From The Daily Beast

In the end, the Toulouse killings never did invert head-to-head polling favoring François Hollande before the affair.

From The Daily Beast

Invert bowl and handle and lay them upon a level block of charcoal, as shown at Figure 28.

From Project Gutenberg

But man can invert this relation, and thus fail in attaining his destination in two ways.

From Project Gutenberg

Then invert each jar to permit the food to cool and to test for leaks.

From Project Gutenberg

Invert the preparation and with the blade of the scalpel remove the slide from the agar block.

From Project Gutenberg

Invert the cover-slip with the block attached on to the hanging-drop slide, and seal the cover-slip firmly in place.

From Project Gutenberg