Inversion

In musical theory an inversion is to write one or more notes of a chord an octave above its position in root form.

For example, the root position of a triad of C major is:

The first inversion means to shift the bottom note (the C) an octave higher:

The second inversion is to write the E an octave above:

The third inversion of a triad cannot be constructed, since shifting the G an octave higher would simply form the original root triad up an octave:

It is, however, possible to find the third inversion of chords which have four notes or more, such as the dominant seventh[?].

In musical counterpoint, inversion refers to a melody turned upside-down.

A Temperature inversion is a meteorological phenomenon where warm air gets trapped above cold, preventing air circulation. When inversions occur, air quality suffers.