The spelling of the word "irreversible" may seem a bit daunting at first glance, but it's actually quite predictable once you break it down. The first syllable is pronounced "ir," like the first syllable of "irregular." Next comes "rē," which is pronounced like the word "ray." Then comes "vur," which is pronounced like the word "verve." Finally, we have "suh," pronounced like "sir" without the "r." So, altogether, the IPA transcription for "irreversible" is /ɪrˈrēvərsəbəl/.
Irreversible is an adjective that describes something that cannot be undone, reversed, or changed back to its previous state. It refers to a situation or process that has reached a point where its effects or consequences are permanent and cannot be altered or canceled.
In the context of physical or chemical reactions, irreversible denotes a change that cannot be reversed or halted by any means. Once a reaction becomes irreversible, it continues to progress until it reaches completion or a stable state without the possibility of going back to the initial state.
Irreversible is also used to characterize irreversible processes in scientific or natural phenomena. These are processes that occur in only one direction, such as the flow of heat from a hotter object to a cooler one, the expansion of gases, or the degradation of certain materials. These irreversible processes are governed by fundamental laws of physics or nature and cannot be reversed by any means without violating these laws.
Furthermore, in the context of human experiences or decisions, irreversible refers to choices or actions that have long-lasting or permanent consequences. These irreversible choices, once made, cannot be taken back or undone, and their effects can profoundly impact an individual's life or the world around them.
Overall, irreversible implies a state or condition that cannot be reversed, undone, or changed back to its previous form, whether pertaining to physical, chemical, natural, or human processes.
Not to be changed; not to be recalled.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "irreversible" has its origins in Latin. It comes from the Latin prefix "ir-" which means "not" or "without", and the Latin word "reversibilis" which means "able to be reversed or turned back". The combination of these two elements gives us "irreversible", which describes something that cannot be reversed or undone.