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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To reverse a machine

Reverse \Re*verse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reversed (r[-e]*v[~e]rst");p. pr. & vb. n. Reversing.] [See Reverse, a., and cf. Revert.]

  1. To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to cause to depart.

    And that old dame said many an idle verse, Out of her daughter's heart fond fancies to reverse.
    --Spenser.

  2. To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.]

    And to his fresh remembrance did reverse The ugly view of his deformed crimes.
    --Spenser.

  3. To change totally; to alter to the opposite.

    Reverse the doom of death.
    --Shak.

    She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of Bray.
    --Sir W. Scott.

  4. To turn upside down; to invert.

    A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if balanced by admirable skill.
    --Sir W. Temple.

  5. Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.

    These can divide, and these reverse, the state.
    --Pope.

    Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good and evil.
    --Rogers.

  6. (Law) To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to under or annual for error; as, to reverse a judgment, sentence, or decree.

    Reverse arms (Mil.), a position of a soldier in which the piece passes between the right elbow and the body at an angle of 45[deg], and is held as in the illustration.

    To reverse an engine or To reverse a machine, to cause it to perform its revolutions or action in the opposite direction.

    Syn: To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert; repeal; annul; revoke; undo.