From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Reversal \Re*ver"sal\, a. [See Reverse.] Intended to reverse; implying reversal. [Obs.] --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Reversal \Re*ver"sal\, n. [From Reverse.] 1. The act of reversing; the causing to move or face in an opposite direction, or to stand or lie in an inverted position; as, the reversal of a rotating wheel; the reversal of objects by a convex lens. [1913 Webster] 2. A change or overthrowing; as, the reversal of a judgment, which amounts to an official declaration that it is false; the reversal of an attainder, or of an outlawry, by which the sentence is rendered void. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: reversal n 1: a change from one state to the opposite state; "there was a reversal of autonomic function" 2: an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating [syn: reverse, reversal, setback, blow, black eye] 3: turning in an opposite direction or position; "the reversal of the image in the lens" [syn: reversal, turn around] 4: a decision to reverse an earlier decision [syn: reversal, change of mind, flip-flop, turnabout, turnaround] 5: a judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was incorrect and should be set aside [ant: affirmation] 6: turning in the opposite direction [syn: reversion, reverse, reversal, turnabout, turnaround] 7: the act of reversing the order or place of [syn: transposition, reversal] 8: a major change in attitude or principle or point of view; "an about-face on foreign policy" [syn: about-face, {volte- face}, reversal, policy change]