adj 反向的，向相反方向的(opposite in position or to what is usual said，expected)[A(of/to)][作attrib]：the～side of the cloth/the record/the page/a coin 这布/这唱片/这一页/一硬币的反(背)面;on the～side of the medal 在奖牌的背面;the～process/direction/tendency 相反的过程/方向/趋势;a～trend to that in other countries 与其他国家相反的趋势;～gear 倒车档;〖同〗contrary，opposite，backward;

in reverse order 按相反的顺序：I'll give you the names of the winner in～order. 我将从后向前宣布获奖人名单。

n (1)相反(opposite or contrary of sth)[U，the～][N(of)]：the～of sb's opinion/what sb ordered/what sb expected/what sb wanted 与某人的意见/所订的货(所点的菜)/所期待/想要的相反;the (very)～of polite(fml)(很)不礼貌;“Are you thirsty?” “Quite the～—I've drunk too much.”“你渴吗?” “不渴，恰恰相反——我喝得太多了。” They thought we had made a profit，but in fact the～was true/the case. 他们以为我们赚了钱，但事实上正好相反/情况正好相反。〖同〗contrary，opposite;

(2)反(背)面(back or rear side of sth)[U，the～]：the～of the cloth/the record/the medal/the page/a coin 这布/这唱片/这块奖牌/这一页/一硬币的反面;Turn the coin over to see what is on the～. 把这枚硬币翻过来，看看背面是什么。〖同〗back，rear;〖反〗front;

(3)失败，挫折，逆运(serious failure or defeat or change for worse in a process or attempt to achieve sth)[C](fml)：suffer/meet with～s 遭受/遇到挫折;several (many/a few) military/minor/serious/financial/unexpected～s 几次(许多/几次)军事上的/小的/严重的/财政上的/意外的挫折;a sudden～in a campaign 一次战役中的突然失败;These～s came after a long period of moderate success. 在很长一段时间里取得了不大不小的成功之后，便出现了这些挫折。a～at the polls 选举中的失败;〖同〗disappointment，defeat;〖反〗advance，benefit;

(4)倒车(档)(reverse gears)[U，C 通常sing](=reverse gear)：throw (put) a car/a truck into～猛地使(使)汽车/卡车挂上倒档;Something is wrong with the～. 倒车档有毛病。The car has four forward gears and a～. 这辆汽车有四个前进档和一个倒车档。

(5)倒车，转弯(change to opposite position，state or direction)[C](=reserve turn)：do～s 倒车转弯;The locomotive is in～. 那个火车头正在后退。

in/into reverse 顺序相反;反向：The truck has “POST OFFICE” printed in～on its bonnet. 那辆卡车发动机罩盖上印着字母顺序颠倒的POST OFFICE字样。 Bob did well in school at first，but then he started moving into～.(fig)最初，鲍勃在学校表现很好，但后来开始走下坡路。

v (1)使倒转(退)(move or cause to move backwards or in an opposite direction)[I，I+prep，I+adv，T+n，T+n+prep，T+n+adv]：～(the car) into the garage/through the gate/round a corner/into a wall 把(汽车)倒着开进车库/通过大门/拐过街角/撞在墙上;～a vehicle 倒车;～(a car) out/back 倒着(把车)开出来/回来;The direction of the movement of this machine can be～d by pressing this button. 按这个电钮可以使这台机器向相反的方向转动。～ing light 倒车灯;〖同〗back;

(2)倒(翻)过来(turn sth over so that the other side is on top or in front)[T+n]：～one's coat/the page/the placard/the sheet of paper 把自己的外套/那一页/那块广告牌/那张纸翻过来;～the order of the items/the gun 把这些项目的顺序颠倒过来/掉转枪口;R～ing the chair，he drew it towards the fire. 他把椅子转过来，拽着它朝炉边走过去。Everything is～d in a mirror. 任何东西在镜子中都是反向的。

(3)使转向对立面，使相反(change around completely)[T+n]：～one's opinion/the country's decline/the trend/the procedure/the effects of disadvantages 改变自己的观点/国家衰落的局面/趋势/步骤/不利影响;This exactly～s what we expected. 这与我们所期待的完全相反。

(4)使颠倒，互换(exchange the position of)[T+n]：～the positions of the two pictures/the traditional sex roles 把两幅画的位置/传统的性别角色互换;Their situations are now～d：employer and employee have～d role. 他们现在的地位颠倒过来，雇主和雇员互换了角色。〖同〗exchange;

(5)推翻，取消(reject a decision，etc and replace it with another decision，etc)[T+n](fml)：～the judgement/the policy/the decision/the verdict 取消这个判决/这项政策/这一决定/这个裁决;The court～d its decree of imprisonment，and the man went free. 法庭取消了监禁判决，那个人自由了。〖同〗change，cancel;

reverse (the) charge(s)由受话方付电话费(BrE)：Ring me up when you get there —～the charges if you like. 到那里后给我来电话——如果你愿意，可以打由我付费的电话。

→ re′versible adj 可翻转(倒退，颠倒，撤消)的;re͵versi′bility n 可翻转(倒退，颠倒，撤消);re′versal n 逆转，颠倒，转换;

【辨异】reverse与opposite 和contrary的区别见CONTRARY。