dissolve definition | Dictionary.com

dis⋅solve

[di-zolv]

verb -solved, -solv⋅ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to make a solution of, as by mixing with a liquid; pass into solution: to dissolve salt in water.

2.	to melt; liquefy: to dissolve sugar into syrup.

3.	to undo (a tie or bond); break up (a connection, union, etc.).

4.	to break up (an assembly or organization); dismiss; disperse.

5.	Government. to order the termination of (a parliament or other legislative body).

6.	to bring to an end; terminate; destroy: to dissolve one's hopes.

7.	to separate into parts or elements; disintegrate.

8.	to destroy the binding power or influence of: to dissolve a spell.

9.	Law. to deprive of force; abrogate; annul: to dissolve a marriage.

–verb (used without object)

10.	to become dissolved, as in a solvent.

11.	to become melted or liquefied.

12.	to disintegrate, break up, or disperse.

13.	to lose force, intensity, or strength.

14.	to disappear gradually; fade away.

15.	to break down emotionally; lose one's composure: The poor child dissolved in tears.

16.	Movies, Television. to fade out one shot or scene while simultaneously fading in the next, overlapping the two during the process.

–noun

17.	Also called lap dissolve, cross-dissolve. Movies, Television. a transition from one scene to the next made by dissolving.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L dissolvere, equiv. to dis- dis- ¹ + solvere to solve

Related forms:

dis⋅solv⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, dis⋅solv⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun

dis⋅solv⋅a⋅ble, adjective

dis⋅solv⋅er, noun

dis⋅solv⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. See melt. 3. sever, loosen. 5. adjourn.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To dissolve

dis·solve (dĭ-zŏlv')

v. dis·solved, dis·solv·ing, dis·solves

v. tr.

To cause to pass into solution: dissolve salt in water.
To reduce (solid matter) to liquid form; melt.
To cause to disappear or vanish; dispel.
To break into component parts; disintegrate.
To bring to an end by or as if by breaking up; terminate.
To dismiss (a legislative body, for example): dissolved parliament and called for new elections.
To cause to break down emotionally or psychologically; upset.
To cause to lose definition; blur; confuse: "Morality has finally been dissolved in pity" (Leslie Fiedler).
Law To annul; abrogate.

v. intr.

To pass into solution.
To become liquid; melt.
To break up or disperse.
To become disintegrated; disappear.
To be overcome emotionally or psychologically: I dissolved into helpless laughter.
To lose clarity or definition; fade away.
To shift shots in a motion-picture film or videotape by having one shot fade out while the next appears behind it and grows clearer as the first one dims.

n. A transition in a motion-picture film or videotape made by fading out one shot while the next one grows clearer. Also called lap dissolve.

[Middle English dissolven, from Latin dissolvere : dis-, dis- + solvere, to release; see leu- in Indo-European roots.]
dis·solv'a·ble adj., dis·solv'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Dissolve

Dis*solve"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissolving.] [L. dissolvere, dissolutum; dis- + solvere to loose, free. See Solve, and cf. Dissolute.]

1. To separate into competent parts; to disorganize; to break up; hence, to bring to an end by separating the parts, sundering a relation, etc.; to terminate; to destroy; to deprive of force; as, to dissolve a partnership; to dissolve Parliament.

Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life. --Shak.

2. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate.

Nothing can dissolve us. --Shak.

Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder. --Fairfax.

For one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. --The Declaration of Independence.

3. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc.,; to melt; to liquefy; to soften.

As if the world were all dissolved to tears. --Shak.

4. To solve; to clear up; to resolve. "Dissolved the mystery." --Tennyson.

Make interpretations and dissolve doubts. --Dan. v. 16.

5. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless.

Angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie. --Dryden.

6. (Law) To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.

Syn: See Adjourn.

Dissolve

Dis*solve"\, v. i. 1. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up.

2. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied.

A figure Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. --Shak.

3. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power.

The charm dissolves apace. --Shak.

Language Translation for : dissolve

Spanish: disolver(se),

German: auflösen,

Japanese: 溶かす

More Translations »

dissolve

c.1374, from L. dissolvere "to loosen up, break apart," from dis- "apart" + solvere "to loose, loosen" (see solve).

Main Entry: dis·solve
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: dis·solved; dis·solv·ing
: to bring about the dissolution of —dis·solv·able adjective

Main Entry: dis·solve
Pronunciation: diz-'älv, -'olv
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: dis·solved; dis·solv·ing
transitive senses
1 : to cause to pass into solution <dissolve sugar in water>
2 : to cause to melt or liquefy dissolveintransitive senses
1 : to become fluid
2 : to pass into solution —dis·solv·able /-'äl-v&-b&l, -'ol-/ adjective —dis·solv·er noun

dissolve dis·solve (dĭ-zŏlv')
v. dis·solved, dis·solv·ing, dis·solves

To pass or cause to pass into a solution, as salt in water.
To become or cause to become liquid; melt.
To cause to disintegrate or become disintegrated.

dissolve (dĭ-zŏlv') Pronunciation Key
To pass or cause to pass into solution.

Search another word or see dissolve on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us