re|ver|bera|tion /r I vɜː r bəre I ʃ ə n/ (reverberations )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Reverberations are serious effects that follow a sudden, dramatic event. □ The move by these two colleges is sending reverberations through higher education.
2 N‑VAR A reverberation is the shaking and echoing effect that you hear after a loud sound has been made. □ [+ of ] Jason heard the reverberation of the slammed door.
re|vere /r I v I ə r / (reveres , revering , revered ) VERB If you revere someone or something, you respect and admire them greatly. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. ● re|vered ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …some of the country's most revered institutions.
rev|er|ence /re vərəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Reverence for someone or something is a feeling of great respect for them. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] …showing a deep reverence for their religion.
Rev|er|end /re vərənd/ N‑TITLE Reverend is a title used before the name or rank of an officially appointed religious leader. The abbreviation Rev. or Revd is also used. □ The service was led by the Reverend Jim Simons.
rev|er|ent /re vərənt/ ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as reverent , you mean that they are showing great respect for a person or thing. □ …the reverent hush of a rapt audience. ● rev|er|ent|ly ADV [usu ADV after v] □ He got up and took the book out almost reverently.
rev|er|en|tial /re vəre nʃ ə l/ ADJ Something that is reverential has the qualities of respect and admiration. [FORMAL ] □ 'That's the old foresters' garden,' she said in reverential tones. ● rev|er|en|tial|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He reverentially returned the novel to a glass-fronted bookcase.
rev|erie /re vəri/ (reveries ) N‑COUNT A reverie is a state of imagining or thinking about pleasant things, as if you are dreaming. [FORMAL ] □ The announcer's voice brought Holden out of his reverie.
re|ver|sal /r I vɜː r s ə l/ (reversals )
1 N‑COUNT A reversal of a process, policy, or trend is a complete change in it. □ [+ of ] The Financial Times says the move represents a complete reversal of previous U.S. policy.
2 N‑COUNT [n N ] When there is a role reversal or a reversal of roles, two people or groups exchange their positions or functions. □ When children end up taking care of their parents, it is a strange role reversal indeed. [Also + of ]
re|verse ◆◇◇ /r I vɜː r s/ (reverses , reversing , reversed )
1 VERB When someone or something reverses a decision, policy, or trend, they change it to the opposite decision, policy, or trend. □ [V n] They have made it clear they will not reverse the decision to increase prices.
2 VERB If you reverse the order of a set of things, you arrange them in the opposite order, so that the first thing comes last. □ [be V -ed] The normal word order is reversed in passive sentences.
3 VERB If you reverse the positions or functions of two things, you change them so that each thing has the position or function that the other one had. □ [V n] He reversed the position of the two stamps.
4 VERB When a car reverses or when you reverse it, the car is driven backwards. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V ] Another car reversed out of the drive. □ [V n] He reversed his car straight at the policeman. in AM, usually use back up 5 N‑UNCOUNT [usu in/into N ] If your car is in reverse , you have changed gear so that you can drive it backwards. □ He lurched the car in reverse along the ruts to the access road.
6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Reverse means opposite to what you expect or to what has just been described. □ The wrong attitude will have exactly the reverse effect.
7 N‑SING If you say that one thing is the reverse of another, you are emphasizing that the first thing is the complete opposite of the second thing. □ There is no evidence that spectators want longer cricket matches. Quite the reverse.
8 N‑COUNT A reverse is a serious failure or defeat. [FORMAL ] □ It's clear that the party of the former Prime Minister has suffered a major reverse.
9 N‑SING The reverse or the reverse side of a flat object which has two sides is the less important or the other side. □ Write your address on the reverse of the cheque.
10 PHRASE If something happens in reverse or goes into reverse , things happen in the opposite way to what usually happens or to what has been happening. □ Amis tells the story in reverse, from the moment the man dies.
11 PHRASE If you reverse the charges when you make a phone call, the person who you are phoning pays the cost of the call and not you. [BRIT ] in AM, use call collect SYNONYMS reverse VERB 1
canceclass="underline" The Navy has decided to cancel its contract for the A-12 Stealth attack plane.
overturn: His nine-month sentence was overturned by Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Watkins.
undo: If Michael won, he would undo everything I have fought for.
rescind: Trade Union leaders have demanded the government rescind the price rise.
re|ve rse charge ca ll (reverse charge calls ) N‑COUNT A reverse charge call is a phone call which is paid for by the person who receives the call, rather than the person who makes the call. [BRIT ] in AM, use collect call