Etymology : Middle English, from Latin dissolvere, from dis- + solvere to loosen; more at SOLVE
Pronunciation : di-'zälv, -'zolv
also
Function : verb
Date : 14th century
1. melt; be melted; change into a liquid; disappear; separate into parts; break apart, disperse; annul. dissolve\dis*solve"\, v. i.
2. to waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up.
3. 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.
4. to fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power. the charm dissolves apace.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.].
5. 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.
6. to break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate. nothing can dissolve us. down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder. for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. --the declaration of independence.
7. 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.
8. to solve; to clear up; to resolve. "dissolved the mystery." make interpretations and dissolve doubts. v.
9. 5. to relax by pleasure; to make powerless. angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie.
10. (law) to annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.
11. 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.
12. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate.
13. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc.,; to melt; to liquefy; to soften.
14. To solve; to clear up; to resolve.
15. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless.
16. To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.
17. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up.
18. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied.
19. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power. a gradual transition from one scene to the next; the next scene is gradually superimposed as the former scene fades out declare void; "The President dissolved the parliament and called for new elections" come to an end; "Their marriage dissolved"; "The tobacco monopoly broke up" bring the association of to an end or cause to break up; "The decree officially dissolved the marriage"; "the judge dissolved the tobacco company" become or cause to become soft or liquid; "The sun melted the ice"; "the ice thawed"; "the ice cream melted"; "The heat melted the wax"; "The giant iceberg dissolved over the years during the global warming phase"; "dethaw the meat" pass into a solution; "The sugar quickly dissolved in the coffee" cause to go into a solution; "The recipe says that we should dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water" become weaker; "The sound faded out" cause to fade away; "dissolve a shot or a picture" lose control emotionally; "She dissolved into tears when she heard that she had lost all her savings in the pyramid scheme" cause to lose control emotionally; "The news dissolved her into tears".
20. 1. If a substance dissolves in liquid or if you dissolve it, it becomes mixed with the liquid and disappears. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves Dissolve the salt in a little boiled water.
21. When an organization or institution is dissolved, it is officially ended or broken up. The committee has been dissolved The King agreed to dissolve the present commission.
22. When a parliament is dissolved, it is formally ended, so that elections for a new parliament can be held. The present assembly will be dissolved on April 30th Kaifu threatened to dissolve the Parliament and call an election.
23. When a marriage or business arrangement is dissolved, it is officially ended. The marriage was dissolved in 1976.
24. If something such as a problem or feeling dissolves or is dissolved, it becomes weaker and disappears. His new-found optimism dissolved Lenny still could not dissolve the nagging lump of tension in his chest. = dissipate.