dissolve

American  

[dih-zolv] / dɪˈzɒlv /

verb (used with object)

dissolved, dissolving

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.).

   Synonyms:

   loosen, sever

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

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

   Synonyms:

   adjourn

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.

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verb (used without object)

dissolved, dissolving

1. to become dissolved, as in a solvent.

2. to become melted or liquefied.

3. to disintegrate, break up, or disperse.

4. to lose force, intensity, or strength.

5. to disappear gradually; fade away.

6. to break down emotionally; lose one's composure.

   The poor child dissolved in tears.

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

noun

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

dissolve British  

/ dɪˈzɒlv /

verb

1. to go or cause to go into solution

   salt dissolves in water

   water dissolves sugar

2. to become or cause to become liquid; melt

3. to disintegrate or disperse

4. to come or bring to an end

5. to dismiss (a meeting, parliament, etc) or (of a meeting, etc) to be dismissed

6. to collapse or cause to collapse emotionally

   to dissolve into tears

7. to lose or cause to lose distinctness or clarity

8. (tr) to terminate legally, as a marriage, etc

9. (intr) films television to fade out one scene and replace with another to make two scenes merge imperceptibly ( fast dissolve ) or slowly overlap ( slow dissolve ) over a period of about three or four seconds

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noun

1. films television a scene filmed or televised by dissolving

dissolve Scientific  

/ dĭ-zŏlv′ /

1. To pass or cause to pass into solution.

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Related Words

See melt ¹.

Other Word Forms

• dissolvability noun
• dissolvable adjective
• dissolvableness noun
• dissolver noun
• dissolvingly adverb
• nondissolving adjective
• predissolve verb (used with object)
• redissolve verb
• self-dissolved adjective
• undissolvable adjective
• undissolved adjective
• undissolving adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissolve

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dissolvere “to unloose”; equivalent to dis- ¹ + solve

Explanation

To dissolve something is to break it up or weaken it, making it no longer recognizable. You could dissolve your book club or you could even dissolve a pill by dropping it into a glass of water. You can use the verb dissolve to describe things that are coming apart or diminishing. Dissolve goes back to the Latin root dissolvere, meaning "to loosen," and it came into English in the 14th century. Physical objects dissolve, as when bubbles dissolve in the tub or a cube of sugar will dissolve in hot tea, and intangible, or non-physical, things can fade away too: "Their friendship started to dissolve when he moved across country and they communicated less frequently."

Example Sentences

When taken at the appropriate dose, these drugs help dissolve crystal deposits and reduce the frequency of painful gout attacks.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

But I didn’t know I’d build something to fix that, and then watch it dissolve.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026

Burnt garlic is acrid and unforgiving; here, it should dissolve into the base of the sauce, barely visible but deeply present.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

It is obviously going to dissolve by the end of the movie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

The spirit trend didn’t dissolve overnight, but skeptics had now exposed fraud often enough that belief among the general public was fading fast.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• adjourn
• break up
• cancel
• collapse
• demolish
• destroy
• discharge
• dismiss
• overthrow
• postpone
• repeal
• separate
• sever
• suspend
• terminate
• vacate