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18 results for: solve
solve 
Audio Help [solv] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [solv] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object), solved, solv·ing.
| 1. | to find the answer or explanation for; clear up; explain: to solve the mystery of the missing books. |
| 2. | to work out the answer or solution to (a mathematical problem). |
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME solven < L solvere to loosen, free, release, dissolve]
] —Related forms
solver, noun
—Synonyms 1. resolve, unravel, untangle, crack.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
solve
To learn more about solve visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| solve
Audio Help (sŏlv, sôlv) Pronunciation Key
v. solved, solv·ing, solves v. tr.
v. intr. To solve an equation: Insert the values of the constants and solve for x. [Middle English solven, to loosen, from Latin solvere; see leu- in Indo-European roots.] solv'er n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to clear up or explain something puzzling or unintelligible: solve a riddle; can't decipher your handwriting; resolve a problem; unravel a mystery. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
solve
c.1440, "to disperse, dissipate, loosen," from L. solvere "to loosen, dissolve, untie," from PIE *se-lu-, from reflexive pronoun *swe- + base *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart" (cf. Gk. lyein "to loosen, release, untie," O.E. -leosan "to lose," leas "loose;" see lose). The meaning "explain, answer" is attested from c.1533; for sense evolution, see solution. Mathematical use is attested from 1737.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| solve | |
verb | |
| 1. | find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem" |
| 2. | find the solution; "solve an equation"; "solve for x" [syn: resolve] |
| 3. | settle, as of a debt; "clear a debt"; "solve an old debt" [syn: clear] |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
solve1 [solv] verb
to discover the answer to (a problem etc)
Example: The mathematics teacher gave the children some problems to solve.
solve2 [solv] verbExample: The mathematics teacher gave the children some problems to solve.
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to clear up or explain (a mystery, crime etc)
Example: That crime has never been solved.
Example: That crime has never been solved.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Solve
Parallel object-oriented language. "Message Pattern Specifications: A New Technique for Handling Errors in Parallel Object- Oriented Systems", J.A. Purchase et al, SIGPLAN Notices 25(10):116-125 (OOPSLA/ECOOP '90) (Oct 1990).
| The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe |
Solve
Ab*solve"\ (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Absolving.] [L. absolvere to set free, to absolve; ab + solvere to loose. See Assoil, Solve.]1. To set free, or release, as from some obligation, debt, or responsibility, or from the consequences of guilt or such ties as it would be sin or guilt to violate; to pronounce free; as, to absolve a subject from his allegiance; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen. --Macaulay. 2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); -- said of the sin or guilt. In his name I absolve your perjury. --Gibbon. 3. To finish; to accomplish. [Obs.] The work begun, how soon absolved. --Milton. 4. To resolve or explain. [Obs.] "We shall not absolve the doubt." --Sir T. Browne. Syn: To Absolve, Exonerate, Acquit. Usage: We speak of a man as absolved from something that binds his conscience, or involves the charge of wrongdoing; as, to absolve from allegiance or from the obligation of an oath, or a promise. We speak of a person as exonerated, when he is released from some burden which had rested upon him; as, to exonerate from suspicion, to exonerate from blame or odium. It implies a purely moral acquittal. We speak of a person as acquitted, when a decision has been made in his favor with reference to a specific charge, either by a jury or by disinterested persons; as, he was acquitted of all participation in the crime.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
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.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
Lose\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Losing.] [OE. losien to loose, be lost, lose, AS. losian to become loose; akin to OE. leosen to lose, p. p. loren, lorn, AS. le['o]san, p. p. loren (in comp.), D. verliezen, G. verlieren, Dan. forlise, Sw. f["o]rlisa, f["o]rlora, Goth. fraliusan, also to E. loose, a & v., L. luere to loose, Gr. ?, Skr. l? to cut. [root]127. Cf. Analysis, Palsy, Solve, Forlorn, Leasing, Loose, Loss.]1. To part with unintentionally or unwillingly, as by accident, misfortune, negligence, penalty, forfeit, etc.; to be deprived of; as, to lose money from one's purse or pocket, or in business or gaming; to lose an arm or a leg by amputation; to lose men in battle. Fair Venus wept the sad disaster Of having lost her favorite dove. --Prior. 2. To cease to have; to possess no longer; to suffer diminution of; as, to lose one's relish for anything; to lose one's health. If the salt hath lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted ? --Matt. v. 13. 3. Not to employ; to employ ineffectually; to throw away; to waste; to squander; as, to lose a day; to lose the benefits of instruction. The unhappy have but hours, and these they lose. --Dryden. 4. To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to and; to go astray from; as, to lose one's way. He hath lost his fellows. --Shak 5. To ruin; to destroy; as destroy; as, the ship was lost on the ledge. The woman that deliberates is lost. --Addison. 6. To be deprived of the view of; to cease to see or know the whereabouts of; as, he lost his companion in the crowd. Like following life thro' creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect. --Pope. 7. To fail to obtain or enjoy; to fail to gain or win; hence, to fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss; as, I lost a part of what he said. He shall in no wise lose his reward. --Matt. x. 42. I fought the battle bravely which I lost, And lost it but to Macedonians. --Dryden. 8. To cause to part with; to deprive of. [R.] How should you go about to lose him a wife he loves with so much passion ? --Sir W. Temple. 9. To prevent from gaining or obtaining. O false heart ! thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory. --Baxter. To lose ground, to fall behind; to suffer gradual loss or disadvantage. To lose heart, to lose courage; to become timid. "The mutineers lost heart." --Macaulay. To lose one's head, to be thrown off one's balance; to lose the use of one's good sense or judgment. In the excitement of such a discovery, many scholars lost their heads. --Whitney. To lose one's self. (a) To forget or mistake the bearing of surrounding objects; as, to lose one's self in a great city. (b) To have the perceptive and rational power temporarily suspended; as, we lose ourselves in sleep. To lose sight of. (a) To cease to see; as, to lose sight of the land. (b) To overlook; to forget; to fail to perceive; as, he lost sight of the issue.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
Re*solve"\ (r?*z?lv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Resolved (-z?lvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Resolving.] [L. resolvere, resolutum, to untie, loosen, relax, enfeeble; pref. re- re- + solvere to loosen, dissolve: cf. F. r['e]soudare to resolve. See Solve, and cf. Resolve, v. i., Resolute, Resolution.]1. To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; -- said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve. O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! --Shak. Ye immortal souls, who once were men, And now resolved to elements again. --Dryden. 2. To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; -- said of complex ideas or obscure questions; to make clear or certain; to free from doubt; to disentangle; to unravel; to explain; hence, to clear up, or dispel, as doubt; as, to resolve a riddle. "Resolve my doubt." --Shak. To the resolving whereof we must first know that the Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving Gentile. --Milton. 3. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain. Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. --Beau. & Fl. Resolve me, Reason, which of these is worse, Want with a full, or with an empty purse? --Pope. In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved it can not be equaled by any region. --Sir W. Raleigh. We must be resolved how the law can be pure and perspicuous, and yet throw a polluted skirt over these Eleusinian mysteries. --Milton. 4. To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind; to fix; to settle; as, he was resolved by an unexpected event. 5. To express, as an opinion or determination, by resolution and vote; to declare or decide by a formal vote; -- followed by a clause; as, the house resolved (or, it was resolved by the house) that no money should be apropriated (or, to appropriate no money). 6. To change or convert by resolution or formal vote; -- used only reflexively; as, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole. 7. (Math.) To solve, as a problem, by enumerating the several things to be done, in order to obtain what is required; to find the answer to, or the result of. --Hutton. 8. (Med.) To dispere or scatter; to discuss, as an inflammation or a tumor. 9. (Mus.) To let the tones (as of a discord) follow their several tendencies, resulting in a concord. 10. To relax; to lay at ease. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. To resolve a nebula.(Astron.) See Resolution of a nebula, under Resolution. Syn: To solve; analyze; unravel; disentangle.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
Sol"u*ble\, a. [L. solubilis, fr. solvere, solutum, to loosen, to dissolve: cf. F. soluble. See Solve, and cf. Solvable.]1. Susceptible of being dissolved in a fluid; capable of solution; as, some substances are soluble in alcohol which are not soluble in water. Sugar is . . . soluble in water and fusible in fire. --Arbuthnot. 2. Susceptible of being solved; as, a soluble algebraic problem; susceptible of being disentangled, unraveled, or explained; as, the mystery is perhaps soluble. "More soluble is this knot." --Tennyson. 3. Relaxed; open or readily opened. [R.] "The bowels must be kept soluble." --Dunglison. Soluble glass. (Chem.) See under Glass.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
So*lute"\, a. [L. solutus, p. p. of solvere to loosen. See Solve.]1. Loose; free; liberal; as, a solute interpretation. [Obs.] --Bacon. 2. Relaxed; hence; merry; cheerful. [R.] A brow solute, and ever-laughing eye. --Young. 3. Soluble; as, a solute salt. [Obs.] 4. (Bot.) Not adhering; loose; -- opposed to adnate; as, a solute stipule.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
So*lu"tion\ (s[-o]*l[=u]"sh[u^]n), n. [OE. solucion, OF. solucion, F. solution, fr. L. solutio, fr. solvere, solutum, to loosen, dissolve. See Solve.]1. The act of separating the parts of any body, or the condition of undergoing a separation of parts; disruption; breach. In all bodies there is an appetite of union and evitation of solution of continuity. --Bacon. 2. The act of solving, or the state of being solved; the disentanglement of any intricate problem or difficult question; explanation; clearing up; -- used especially in mathematics, either of the process of solving an equation or problem, or the result of the process. 3. The state of being dissolved or disintegrated; resolution; disintegration. It is unquestionably an enterprise of more promise to assail the nations in their hour of faintness and solution, than at a time when magnificent and seductive systems of worship were at their height of energy and splendor. --I. Taylor. 4. (Chem.Phys.) The act or process by which a body (whether solid, liquid, or gaseous) is absorbed into a liquid, and, remaining or becoming fluid, is diffused throughout the solvent; also, the product reulting from such absorption. Note: When a solvent will not take in any more of a substance the solution is said to be saturated. Solution is two kinds; viz.: (a) Mechanical solution, in which no marked chemical change takes place, and in which, in the case of solids, the dissolved body can be regained by evaporation, as in the solution of salt or sugar in water. (b) Chemical solution, in which there is involved a decided chemical change, as when limestone or zinc undergoes solution in hydrochloric acid. Mechanical solution is regarded as a form of molecular or atomic attraction, and is probably occasioned by the formation of certain very weak and unstable compounds which are easily dissociated and pass into new and similar compounds. Note: This word is not used in chemistry or mineralogy for fusion, or the melting of bodies by the heat of fire. 5. release; deliverance; discharge. [Obs.] --Barrow. 6. (Med.) (a) The termination of a disease; resolution. (b) A crisis. (c) A liquid medicine or preparation (usually aqueous) in which the solid ingredients are wholly soluble. --U. S. Disp. Fehling's solution (Chem.), a standardized solution of cupric hydrate in sodium potassium tartrate, used as a means of determining the reducing power of certain sugars and sirups by the amount of red cuprous oxide thrown down. Heavy solution (Min.), a liquid of high density, as a solution of mercuric iodide in potassium iodide (called the Sonstadt or Thoulet solution) having a maximum specific gravity of 3.2, or of borotungstate of cadium (Klein solution, specific gravity 3.6), and the like. Such solutions are much used in determining the specific gravities of minerals, and in separating them when mechanically mixed as in a pulverized rock. Nessler's solution. See Nesslerize. Solution of continuity, the separation of connection, or of connected substances or parts; -- applied, in surgery, to a fracture, laceration, or the like. "As in the natural body a wound, or solution of continuity, is worse than a corrupt humor, so in the spiritual." --Bacon. Standardized solution (Chem.), a solution which is used as a reagent, and is of a known and standard strength; specifically, a normal solution, containing in each cubic centimeter as many milligrams of the element in question as the number representing its atomic weight; thus, a normal solution of silver nitrate would contain 107.7 mgr. of silver nitrate in each cubic centimeter.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
Solv"a*ble\, a. [F. solvable. See Solve, and cf. Soluble, Solvible.]1. Susceptible of being solved, resolved, or explained; admitting of solution. 2. Capable of being paid and discharged; as, solvable obligations. --Tooke. 3. Able to pay one's debts; solvent. [Obs.] --Fuller.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
Solve\ (s[o^]lv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solved (s[o^]lvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Solving.] [L. solvere, solutum; from a prefix so- expressing separation (cf. Sober) + luere to loosen; cf. OF. soldre, soudre. See Loose, and cf. Absolve.] To explain; to resolve; to unfold; to clear up (what is obscure or difficult to be understood); to work out to a result or conclusion; as, to solve a doubt; to solve difficulties; to solve a problem. True piety would effectually solve such scruples. --South. God shall solve the dark decrees of fate. --Tickell. Syn: To explain; resolve; unfold; clear up.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Solve
Solve\, n. A solution; an explanation. [Obs.] --Shak.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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