re|ve rse dis|crimi|na |tion N‑UNCOUNT Reverse discrimination is the same as positive discrimination . □ …a policy of reverse discrimination in favour of children from poor backgrounds.
re|ve rse e n|gi|nee r|ing N‑UNCOUNT Reverse engineering is a process in which a product or system is analysed in order to see how it works, so that a similar version of the product or system can be produced more cheaply. [BUSINESS ] □ Not only did the group acquire reverse engineering skills in the process, it also gained entry into the global market.
re|ve rse gea r (reverse gears ) N‑VAR The reverse gear of a vehicle is the gear which you use in order to make the vehicle go backwards.
re|ve rse vi deo N‑UNCOUNT Reverse video is the process of reversing the colours of normal characters and background on a computer screen, in order to highlight the display. [COMPUTING ]
re|vers|ible /r I vɜː r s I b ə l/
1 ADJ If a process or an action is reversible , its effects can be reversed so that the original situation returns. □ Heart disease is reversible in some cases, according to a study published last summer.
2 ADJ Reversible clothes or materials have been made so that either side can be worn or shown as the outside. □ …a reversible waistcoat.
re|ve rs|ing light (reversing lights ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Reversing lights are the white lights on the back of a motor vehicle which shine when the vehicle is in reverse gear. [BRIT ] in AM, use back-up lights
re|ver|sion /r I vɜː r ʃ ə n/ (reversions )
1 N‑SING A reversion to a previous state, system, or kind of behaviour is a change back to it. □ [+ to ] Most of us learnt to fish as children, and so going fishing is a reversion to a state of uncomplicatedness.
2 N‑VAR The reversion of land or property to a person, family, or country is the return to them of the ownership or control of the land or property. [LEGAL ]
re|vert /r I vɜː r t/ (reverts , reverting , reverted )
1 VERB When people or things revert to a previous state, system, or type of behaviour, they go back to it. □ [V + to ] Jackson said her boss became increasingly depressed and reverted to smoking heavily.
2 VERB When someone reverts to a previous topic, they start talking or thinking about it again. [WRITTEN ] □ [V + to ] In the car she reverted to the subject uppermost in her mind.
3 VERB If property, rights, or money revert to someone, they become that person's again after someone else has had them for a period of time. [LEGAL ] □ [V + to ] When the lease ends, the property reverts to the freeholder.
re|view ◆◆◇ /r I vjuː / (reviews , reviewing , reviewed )
1 N‑COUNT A review of a situation or system is its formal examination by people in authority. This is usually done in order to see whether it can be improved or corrected. □ [+ of ] The president ordered a review of U.S. economic aid to Jordan.
2 VERB If you review a situation or system, you consider it carefully to see what is wrong with it or how it could be improved. □ [V n] The Prime Minister reviewed the situation with his Cabinet yesterday.
3 N‑COUNT A review is a report in the media in which someone gives their opinion of something such as a new book or film. □ We've never had a good review in the music press.
4 VERB If someone reviews something such as a new book or film, they write a report or give a talk on television or radio in which they express their opinion of it. □ [V n] Richard Coles reviews all of the latest film releases.
5 VERB When you review for an examination, you read things again and make notes in order to be prepared for the examination. [AM ] □ [V + for ] Reviewing for exams lets you bring together all the individual parts of the course. □ [V n] Review all the notes you need to cover for each course. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Review is also a noun. □ Begin by planning on three two-hour reviews with four chapters per session. [in BRIT, use revise ]
re|vie w board (review boards ) N‑COUNT A review board is a group of people in authority who examine a situation or system to see if it should be improved, corrected, or changed.
re|view|er /r I vjuː ə r / (reviewers ) N‑COUNT A reviewer is a person who reviews new books, films, television programmes, CDs, plays, or concerts. □ …the reviewer for the Times Literary Supplement.
re|vie w|ing stand (reviewing stands ) N‑COUNT A reviewing stand is a special raised platform from which military and political leaders watch military parades.
re|vile /r I va I l/ (reviles , reviling , reviled ) VERB If someone or something is reviled , people hate them intensely or show their hatred of them. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] He was just as feared and reviled as his tyrannical parents. □ [V n] What right had the crowd to revile the team for something they could not help? ● re|viled ADJ □ He is probably the most reviled man in contemporary theatre.
re|vise /r I va I z/ (revises , revising , revised )
1 VERB If you revise the way you think about something, you adjust your thoughts, usually in order to make them better or more suited to how things are. □ [V n] He soon came to revise his opinion of the profession.
2 VERB If you revise a price, amount, or estimate, you change it to make it more fair, realistic, or accurate. □ [V n] Some of their prices were higher than their competitors' so they revised their prices accordingly.