reversible

Everyday

1. Able to be changed back to how it was before. tree →
2. (clothes) Able to be worn either side out: a reversible jacket. tree →
3. (science) A reversible change is one where you can get the original materials back, like melting ice or dissolving salt. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, pupils sort changes into reversible (melting, freezing, dissolving, evaporating) and irreversible (burning, cooking an egg, rusting). In maths, some operations can be reversed: adding is reversed by subtracting. In everyday life, «reversible» clothes have two looks. Phrases: «reversible change», «reversible reaction», «reversible jacket».

Examples

• Melting chocolate is a reversible change, because it can set again. tree →
• Burning paper is not reversible. tree →
• My coat is reversible: blue on one side and red on the other. tree →
• Dissolving salt is reversible — evaporate the water and the salt is left. tree →
• The doctor said the damage was reversible with rest. tree →
• Is cooking an egg a reversible change? No! tree →

Note

Opposite: irreversible. Verb: reverse. Spelling: -ible (not «-able»). Maths link: inverse operations reverse each other (× and ÷, + and −).