1. (

• inversion

) the layer of air near the earth is cooler than an overlying layer ;

2. (

• inversion

) abnormal condition in which an organ is turned inward or inside out (as when the upper part of the uterus is pulled into the cervical canal after childbirth) ;

3. (

• inversion

) a chemical process in which the direction of optical rotation of a substance is reversed from dextrorotatory to levorotary or vice versa ;

4. (

• inversion

) (genetics) a kind of mutation in which the order of the genes in a section of a chromosome is reversed ;

5. (

• anastrophe ,
• inversion

) the reversal of the normal order of words ;

6. (

• inversion ,

) (counterpoint) a variation of a melody or part in which ascending intervals are replaced by descending intervals and vice versa ;

7. (

• inversion ,
• sexual_inversion

) a term formerly used to mean taking on the gender role of the opposite sex ;

8. (

• inversion ,
• upending

) turning upside down; setting on end ;

9. (

• inversion ,
• eversion ,
• everting

) the act of turning inside out ;