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reversible

UK/ɹəˈvɜː(ɹ)sɪbəl/US/ɹəˈvɜː(ɹ)sɪbəl/
adjectiveB2+Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #12,048 of 15,258leans written

Reversible means able to run in either direction. A reversible reaction, a reversible jacket, reversible damage.

In chemistry a reversible reaction runs both ways at once and settles at an equilibrium, which is the basis of a great deal of industrial process control. In medicine, reversible damage is the kind that heals. A reversible garment is finished on both sides. Note irreversible, which is the important word in climate discussion.

Definitions of reversible

  1. 1adjectivereversibleAble to run in either direction.B2+

    “The escalator is reversible, running up in the morning and down in the evening.”

reversible is a quality of two-way working.

Where it comes from

Reverse plus -ible, from Latin reversus, turned back. Revert and version come from the same turning.

  1. Proto-Indo-European

    *wert-

  2. Middle English

    revers

  3. English

    reverse

  4. English, today

    reversible

Probably from Middle French -, equivalent to reverse + ible. reverse comes from Middle English revers. From Middle English revers, from Anglo-Norman revers, Middle French revers, and their source, Latin reversus, perfect passive participle of reversō, from re- + versō. a doublet of revers.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Chemistry & Elements

Practise this word

reversible in the wild

  • Melting or freezing of ice in water is an example of a realistic process that is nearly reversible.

    Reversible process (thermodynamics)

  • The reversible mixing is involved in defining the entropy of mixtures.

    Reversible process (thermodynamics)

  • The first few reversible primes are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 31, 37, 71, 73, 79, 97, 101, 107,....

    Emirp

  • While an FPP-equipped vessel needs either a reversing gear or a reversible engine to reverse, a CPP vessel may not.

    Variable-pitch propeller (marine)

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

  • reverse