v.
Pronunciation: di- ' zälv, - ' zo ̇ lv also - ' zäv or - ' zo ̇ v
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin dissolvere, from dis- + solvere to loosen ― more at SOLVE
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to cause to disperse or disappear : DESTROY <do not dissolve and deface the laws of charity ― Francis Bacon> b : to separate into component parts : DISINTEGRATE c : to bring to an end : TERMINATE < dissolve parliament> d : ANNUL < dissolve an injunction>
2 a : to cause to pass into solution < dissolve sugar in water> b : MELT , LIQUEFY c : to cause to be emotionally moved d : to cause to fade in or out in a dissolve
3 archaic : DETACH , LOOSEN
4 : to clear up < dissolve a problem>
intransitive verb
1 a : to become dissipated or decomposed b : BREAK UP , DISPERSE c : to fade away
2 a : to become fluid : MELT b : to pass into solution c : to be overcome emotionally < dissolved into tears> d : to resolve itself as if by dissolution <hate dissolved into fear> e : to change by a dissolve <the scene dissolve s to a Victorian parlor>
– dis · solv · able \ - ' zäl-v ə -b ə l, - ' zo ̇ l- \ adjective
– dis · sol · vent \ - ' zäl-v ə nt, - ' zo ̇ l- \ noun or adjective
– dis · solv · er noun