inversion

//ɪnˈvɜːʃən//
C1Frequency Level 12Formal
Visual representation of inversion

Noun

inversionSingular
inversionsPlural
1

The action of inverting something or the state of being inverted; a reversal of position, order, or relationship.

The inversion of the image made it appear upside down.

2

A grammatical construction in which the normal word order is reversed, especially the placing of a verb before its subject.

In the sentence 'Never have I seen such beauty,' the inversion of the subject and verb adds emphasis.

3

A meteorological condition in which a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the surface of the earth.

The temperature inversion trapped smog over the city for several days.

4

In music, the rearrangement of the notes of a chord so that a note other than the root is in the bass.

The pianist played the chord in first inversion to create a smoother bass line.

inversion - Deep Vocabulary