catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Inverse \In*verse"\, a. [L. inversus, p. p. of invertere: cf. F.
     inverse. See Invert.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed;
        inverted; reciprocal; -- opposed to direct.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment
        the reverse of that which is usual.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Math.) Opposite in nature and effect; -- said with
        reference to any two operations, which, when both are
        performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that
        quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to
        division. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol
        of the direct operation with -1 as an index. Thus sin-1 x
        means the arc or angle whose sine is x.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Inverse figures (Geom.), two figures, such that each point
        of either figure is inverse to a corresponding point in
        the order figure.
  
     Inverse points (Geom.), two points lying on a line drawn
        from the center of a fixed circle or sphere, and so
        related that the product of their distances from the
        center of the circle or sphere is equal to the square of
        the radius.
  
     Inverse ratio, or Reciprocal ratio (Math.), the ratio of
        the reciprocals of two quantities.
  
     Inverse proportion, or Reciprocal proportion, an equality
        between a direct ratio and a reciprocal ratio; thus, 4 : 2
        : : 1/3 : 1/6, or 4 : 2 : : 3 : 6, inversely.
        [1913 Webster]

  Inverse \In*verse"\, a. [L. inversus, p. p. of invertere: cf. F.
     inverse. See Invert.]
     1. Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed;
        inverted; reciprocal; -- opposed to direct.
  
     2. (Bot.) Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment
        the reverse of that which is usual.
  
     3. (Math.) Opposite in nature and effect; -- said with
        reference to any two operations, which, when both are
        performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that
        quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to
        division. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol
        of the direct operation with -1 as an index. Thus sin-1 x
        means the arc whose sine is x.
  
     Inverse figures (Geom.), two figures, such that each point
        of either figure is inverse to a corresponding point in
        the order figure.
  
     Inverse points (Geom.), two points lying on a line drawn
        from the center of a fixed circle or sphere, and so
        related that the product of their distances from the
        center of the circle or sphere is equal to the square of
        the radius.
  
     Inverse, or Reciprocal, ratio (Math.), the ratio of the
        reciprocals of two quantities.
  
     Inverse, or Reciprocal, proportion, an equality between
        a direct ratio and a reciprocal ratio; thus, 4 : 2 : : 1/3
        : 1/6, or 4 : 2 : : 3 : 6, inversely.