Dissolve
/dɪˈzɒlv/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo become or cause to become incorporated into a liquid, forming a solution.
/dɪˈzɒlv/
To cause to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution.
The salt dissolved quickly in the water.
💡 Simply: Imagine putting a sugar cube in your tea. It disappears, right? That's dissolving! It mixes with the water and you can't see it anymore.
👶 For kids: To disappear in a liquid, like sugar in water.
More Examples
I need to dissolve the bouillon cube in the hot broth before adding it to the soup.
The ice cream is starting to dissolve in the sun.
How It's Used
"The sugar dissolved in the hot tea."
"Dissolve the yeast in warm water before adding it to the flour."
To cause to break up or come to an end; to disintegrate or fade away.
/dɪˈzɒlv/
To break up or cause to break up and disappear.
The committee will dissolve after the project is completed.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a group that is no longer working well. If you decide to 'dissolve' it, it's like you're breaking it up so it's no longer a thing. It can also refer to the end of friendships or relationships that are broken.
👶 For kids: To break up or go away, like a group splitting apart or a friendship ending.
More Examples
The tension in the room seemed to dissolve as the argument ended.
The empire dissolved into smaller states.
Their friendship began to dissolve due to the disagreement.
How It's Used
"The government decided to dissolve Parliament."
"Their friendship began to dissolve over time."
From Latin dissolvere 'to loosen, break up', from dis- 'apart' + solvere 'to loosen'.
Historically, 'dissolve' has been used in both literal and figurative contexts, describing the breakdown of substances and the end of groups or entities. In older texts, it was also used with more abstract meanings.
Memory tip
Think of a sugar cube disappearing into your tea – it dissolves!
Word Origin
"dis- (apart) + solvere (to loosen)"