reversal

English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈvɜː(ɹ)səl/
Audio (RP) (file)
Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)səl

Etymology 1

From Middle English reversall; equivalent to reverse +‎ -al.

Noun

reversal (countable and uncountable, plural reversals)

The state of being reversed.
An instance of reversing.
- 2019 October, Tony Miles, “Chase Line service to be split next May”, in Modern Railways, page 17:
  Running via Aston would require a reversal at New Street and this will be taken into account during the planning and normal industry testing processes.
A change in fortune; a change from being successful to having problems.

Usage notes

Reversal of trains often takes place at a terminus, where the driver walks to the cab at the other end of the train; if hauled by a locomotive, that moves to the other end if the train if the train has no driving cab at the other end.

Synonyms

reversion

Derived terms

nonreversal
prereversal
reversalism
reversalist
reversality
reversally
unreversal

Compound words

age-reversal
photoreversal

Expressions

magnetic reversal
role reversal
Russian reversal
time reversal

Translations

an instance of reversing

Bulgarian: обръщане (bg) n (obrǎštane)
Chinese:
Cantonese: 倒轉 (yue), 倒转 (yue) (dou³ zyun³)
Mandarin: 倒轉／倒转 (zh) (dàozhuǎn)
French: renversement (fr) m, inversion (fr) f
Greek: αναστροφή (el) f (anastrofí)
Ancient: ἀναστροφή f (anastrophḗ)
Hungarian: -csere (hu), megfordítás, megfordulás (hu), -forduló (hu)
Spanish: inversión (es) f, retorno (es) m, revocación f

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Dutch: omkering (nl) f, ommezwaai (nl)
Sranan Tongo: trafassi

Etymology 2

From French réversal or Medieval Latin reversālis.[1]

Adjective

reversal (not comparable)

Intended to reverse; implying reversal.
- 1724, [Gilbert] Burnet, [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Thomas Ward […], OCLC 863504080:
  For after his death there were reversal letters found among his papers from the Duke of Anjou

References

“†reˈversal, a.”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989, →ISBN.

Anagrams

ravelers, slaverer

Spanish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /rebeɾˈsal/ [re.β̞eɾˈsal]
Rhymes: -al
Syllabification: re‧ver‧sal

Adjective

reversal (plural reversales)

used to describe a type of diplomatic note

Usage notes

It is used almost exclusively in the terms carta reversal or nota reversal

[1] “†reˈversal, a.”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989, →ISBN.