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January 01, 2019 Word of the Day

dissolve /dɪˈzɑːlv/ verb
dissolve
/dɪˈzɑːlv/
verb

dissolves; dissolved; dissolving

Tablet dissolving in water
Tablet dissolving in water
Definition of DISSOLVE

1 of something solid : to mix with a liquid and become part of the liquid

[no object]

  • Sugar/salt dissolves in water.

[+ object]

  • Dissolve the tablet in water.

2 [+ object] formal : to officially end (something, such as a marriage, organization, or agreement)

  • She dissolved [=terminated] their partnership.

— often used as (be) dissolved

  • The marriage/business/government was dissolved.

  • The company has been dissolved.

3 somewhat formal : to end or disappear or cause (something) to end or disappear

[no object]

  • His smile dissolved [=disappeared] when I told him the news.

  • Hopes for peace dissolved in renewed violence.

[+ object]

  • His kind words dissolved her sadness.

  • The treatment is used to dissolve kidney stones.

◊ If you dissolve in/into tears/laughter, etc., you start to cry, laugh, etc., in an uncontrolled way.

  • The audience dissolved into tears during the play's final scene.

  • The children dissolved into laughter/giggles.

dissolvable /dɪˈzɑːlvəbəl/ adjective

  • The doctor used dissolvable stitches to close the wound.

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