Inversion \In*ver"sion\, n. [L. inversio: cf. F. inversion. See
Invert.]
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1. The act of inverting, or turning over or backward, or the
state of being inverted.
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2. A change by inverted order; a reversed position or
arrangement of things; transposition.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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12. (Electricity) The conversion of direct current into
alternating current; the inverse of rectification. See
inverted rectifier.
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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.
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