inverse

UK: /ˌɪnˈvɜː^rs/

US: /ɪnˈvɝs, ˈɪnvɝs/

US: (adj., n. in vûrs′, in′vûrs; v. in vûrs′)

Inflections of 'inverse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

inverses

v 3rd person singular

inversing

v pres p

inversed

v past

inversed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•verse /ɪnˈvɜrs, ˈɪnvɜrs/   adj. 

1. reversed in position, order, direction, or tendency;
   opposite:
   Read the numbers in inverse order.
2. (of a proportion) having two terms of which one increases as the other decreases.

n. [uncountable]

3. something that is the direct opposite:
   The outcome was the inverse of what was supposed to happen.

in•verse•ly, adv. See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•verse  (adj., n. in vûrs′, in′vûrs;v. in vûrs′), adj., n., v., -versed, -vers•ing. 
adj. 

1. reversed in position, order, direction, or tendency.
2. [Math.]
   • Mathematics (of a proportion) containing terms of which an increase in one results in a decrease in another. A term is said to be in inverse proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other decreases (or increases).
   • Mathematics of or pertaining to an inverse function. Cf. direct (def. 16).
3. inverted;
   turned upside down.

n. 

4. an inverted state or condition.
5. something that is inverse;
   the direct opposite.
6. Mathematics
   • Mathematics an element of an algebraic system, as a group, corresponding to a given element such that its product or sum with the given element is the identity element.
   • See inverse function. 
   • Mathematics a point related to a given point so that it is situated on the same radius, extended if necessary, of a given circle or sphere and so that the product of the distances of the two points from the center equals the square of the radius of the circle or sphere.
   • Mathematics the set of such inverses of the points of a given set, as the points on a curve.

v.t. 

7. to invert.

• Latin inversus, past participle of invertere to turn upside down or inside out, reverse. See in-², verse
• 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inverse / ɪnˈvɜːs ˈɪnvɜːs/ adjective

1. opposite or contrary in effect, sequence, direction, etc
2. (of a relationship) containing two variables such that an increase in one results in a decrease in the other
3. (of an element) operating on a specified member of a set to produce the identity of the set: the additive inverse element of x is –x, the multiplicative inverse element of x is 1/x
4. (usually prenominal) upside-down; inverted: in an inverse position

noun

1. 
   another name for reciprocal7
2. an inverse element

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin inversus, from invertere to invert

inˈversely adverb