dissolve

[dih-zolv]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dissolve ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), dis·solved, dis·solv·ing.

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

to melt; liquefy: to dissolve sugar into syrup.

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

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

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

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

to separate into parts or elements; disintegrate.

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

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

verb (used without object), dis·solved, dis·solv·ing.

to become dissolved, as in a solvent.

to become melted or liquefied.

to disintegrate, break up, or disperse.

to lose force, intensity, or strength.

to disappear gradually; fade away.

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

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

noun

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

Nearby words

Origin of dissolve

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dissolvere, equivalent to dis- dis-¹ + solvere to solve

SYNONYMS FOR dissolve

1. See melt¹. 3. sever, loosen. 5. adjourn.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dissolve ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

dis·solv·a·bil·i·ty, dis·solv·a·ble·ness, noundis·solv·a·ble, adjectivedis·solv·er, noundis·solv·ing·ly, adverb

non·dis·solv·ing, adjectivepre·dis·solve, verb (used with object), pre·dis·solved, pre·dis·solv·ing.re·dis·solve, verb, re·dis·solved, re·dis·solv·ing.self-dis·solved, adjectiveun·dis·solv·a·ble, adjectiveun·dis·solved, adjectiveun·dis·solv·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dissolve

For the death of one of its members cannot, I am determined, dissolve the T.C.B.S… Yes, publish….
Why World War I Is at the Heart of ‘Lord of the Rings’|John Garth|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“YCT come get me,” they chanted until the crowd began to dissolve.
How a Game of Tag Turned a Texas Campus Into Immigration’s Ground Zero|Kelsey McKinney|November 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
City Opera will dissolve unless $7 million is raised to fund the season by midnight on Monday.
'Breaking Bad' Breaks Records, Hillary Clinton Doc Cancelled|Culture Team|September 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
You remember the famous Bertolt Brecht line about how the government should just “dissolve the people and elect another”?
A New GOP? Not Yet|Michael Tomasky|February 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST

An upcoming court ruling on the constitutionality of the parliamentary elections could dissolve the Islamist-dominated Parliament.
Confusion Surrounds Egypt’s Presidential Elections, Set for May 23|Ursula Lindsey|May 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Dissolve Nelson's Gelatine, in the proportion of half-an-ounce to a pint of the fruit, in a little water, stir well together.
Nelson's Home Comforts|Mary Hooper
Soak a package of gelatine in a cupful of cold water and dissolve by gentle heat.
The Myrtle Reed Cook Book|Myrtle Reed
Pryor of Virginia declared the majority report "a proposition to dissolve the Union."
The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America|W. E. B. Du Bois
Edward foresaw that it would be easy to dissolve an alliance composed of such discordant parts.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part B.|David Hume
Moisten the gelatine in the cold water and dissolve in the boiling water.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

British Dictionary definitions for dissolve

dissolve

verb

to go or cause to go into solutionsalt dissolves in water; water dissolves sugar

to become or cause to become liquid; melt

to disintegrate or disperse

to come or bring to an end

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

to collapse or cause to collapse emotionallyto dissolve into tears

to lose or cause to lose distinctness or clarity

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

(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

noun

films television a scene filmed or televised by dissolving

Derived Formsdissolvable, adjectivedissolvability or dissolvableness, noundissolver, noun

Word Origin for dissolve

C14: from Latin dissolvere to make loose, from dis- 1 + solvere to release

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dissolve

dissolve

late 14c. (transitive and intransitive) "to break up" (of material substances), from Latin dissolvere "to loosen up, break apart," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + solvere "to loose, loosen" (see solve). Meaning "to disband" (an assembly) is early 15c. Related: Dissolved; dissolving.

Medicine definitions for dissolve

dissolve

[dĭ-zŏlv′]

v.

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.

Science definitions for dissolve

dissolve

[dĭ-zŏlv′]

To pass or cause to pass into solution.

dissolve

verb (used with object), dis·solved, dis·solv·ing.

verb (used without object), dis·solved, dis·solv·ing.

noun

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Origin of dissolve

Examples from the Web for dissolve

dissolve

verb

noun

Word Origin for dissolve

dissolve

dissolve

v.

dissolve