REVERSAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does reversal mean? 

• REVERSAL (noun)
  The noun REVERSAL has 8 senses:

1. a change from one state to the opposite state

2. an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

3. turning in an opposite direction or position

4. a decision to reverse an earlier decision

5. a judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was incorrect and should be set aside

6. turning in the opposite direction

7. the act of reversing the order or place of

8. a major change in attitude or principle or point of view

  Familiarity information: REVERSAL used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REVERSAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A change from one state to the opposite state

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

there was a reversal of autonomic function

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

change of state (the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reversal"):

regress; regression; retrogression; retroversion; reversion (returning to a former state)

Derivation:

reverse (change to the contrary)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

black eye; blow; reversal; reverse; setback

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reversal"):

whammy (a serious or devastating setback)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Turning in an opposite direction or position

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

reversal; turn around

Context example:

the reversal of the image in the lens

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

turn; turning (a movement in a new direction)

Derivation:

reverse (turn inside out or upside down)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A decision to reverse an earlier decision

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

change of mind; flip-flop; reversal; turnabout; turnaround

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

deciding; decision making (the cognitive process of reaching a decision)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reversal"):

afterthought; reconsideration; rethink; second thought (thinking again about a choice previously made)

Derivation:

reverse (cancel officially)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was incorrect and should be set aside

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

judgement; judgment; judicial decision ((law) the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on matters submitted to it)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Antonym:

affirmation (a judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was correct and should stand)

Derivation:

reverse (rule against)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Turning in the opposite direction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

reversal; reverse; reversion; turnabout; turnaround

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

change of direction; reorientation (the act of changing the direction in which something is oriented)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reversal"):

about-face; about turn (act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation)

u-turn (complete reversal of direction of travel)

Derivation:

reverse (turn inside out or upside down)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The act of reversing the order or place of

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

reversal; transposition

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

reordering (a rearrangement in a different order)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A major change in attitude or principle or point of view

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

about-face; policy change; reversal; volte-face

Context example:

an about-face on foreign policy

Hypernyms ("reversal" is a kind of...):

change (the action of changing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reversal"):

undoing (an act that makes a previous act of no effect (as if not done))

 Context examples 

A syndrome characterized by the reversal of a septal defect-associated left-to-right shunt due to the resulting secondary pulmonary hypertension.

(Eisenmenger Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

The results provide a clearer picture of magnetic reversals at a time when, as the field weakens and moves, some scientists believe we may be experiencing the early stages of a reversal.

(Earth's last magnetic field reversal took far longer than once thought, National Science Foundation)

Dofequidar has demonstrated reversal of the MDR phenotype in those cells exposed to various chemotherapeutic agents, such as vinca alkaloids and anthracyclines.

(Dofequidar Fumarate, NCI Thesaurus)

Edg1 stimulation also leads to the activation of the ERK signaling cascade resulting in anti-apoptotic reversal, proliferation and cell survival.

(Phospholipid Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The reversal of the two natures, in their relative positions, Uriah's of power and Mr. Wickfield's of dependence, was a sight more painful to me than I can express.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This results in the prevention or reversal of both narcotic- and CNS depressant-induced respiratory depression.

(Doxapram, NCI Thesaurus)

It is essentially a reversal of glycolysis with minor variations of alternative paths.

(Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

Odanacatib selectively binds to and inhibits the activity of cathepsin K, which may result in a reduction in bone resorption, improvement of bone mineral density, and a reversal in osteoporotic changes.

(Odanacatib, NCI Thesaurus)

The silencing of DNMT1 translation by MG 98 may result in the prevention or reversal of abnormal methylation of tumor suppressor genes and ultimately in tumor growth inhibition or tumor regression.

(MG 98, NCI Thesaurus)

Condition characterized by splenomegaly, some reduction in the number of circulating blood cells in the presence of a normal or hyperactive bone marrow, and the potential for reversal by splenectomy.

(Hypersplenism, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)