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dissolve

/dɪˈzɑlv/

/dɪˈzɒlv/

Other forms: dissolved; dissolving; dissolves

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."

Definitions of dissolve
  1. verb
    pass into a solution
    “The sugar quickly dissolved in the coffee”
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    type of:
    disintegrate
    break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity
  2. verb
    cause to go into a solution
    “The recipe says that we should dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water”
    synonyms: break up, resolve
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    types:
    show 4 types...
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    melt, melt down, run
    reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
    cut
    dissolve by breaking down the fat of
    fuse
    make liquid or plastic by heating
    render, try
    melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities
    type of:
    change integrity
    change in physical make-up
  3. verb
    become or cause to become soft or liquid
    “The giant iceberg dissolved over the years during the global warming phase”
    synonyms: dethaw, melt, thaw, unfreeze, unthaw
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    types:
    deliquesce
    melt or become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
    de-ice, defrost, deice
    make or become free of frost or ice
    type of:
    flux, liquefy, liquify
    become liquid or fluid when heated
  4. verb
    cause to fade away
    dissolve a shot or a picture”
    Synonyms:
    fade away, fade out
    become weaker
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    types:
    etch
    selectively dissolve the surface of (a semiconductor or printed circuit) with a solvent, laser, or stream of electrons
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  5. noun
    (film) a gradual transition from one scene to the next; the next scene is gradually superimposed as the former scene fades out
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    type of:
    transition
    a passage that connects a topic to one that follows
  6. verb
    come to an end
    “Their marriage dissolved
    synonyms: break up
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    type of:
    end, terminate
    bring to an end or halt
  7. verb
    stop functioning or cohering as a unit
    “The political wing of the party dissolved after much internal fighting”
    synonyms: disband
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    type of:
    break up
    come apart
  8. verb
    declare void
    “The President dissolved the parliament and called for new elections”
    synonyms: dismiss
    break up
    bring the association of to an end or cause to break up
    see moresee less
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  9. verb
    bring the association of to an end or cause to break up
    “The decree officially dissolved the marriage”
    “the judge dissolved the tobacco company”
    synonyms: break up
    dismiss
    declare void
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    type of:
    end, terminate
    bring to an end or halt
  10. verb
    lose control emotionally
    “She dissolved into tears when she heard that she had lost all her savings in the pyramid scheme”
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    type of:
    break down, lose it, snap
    lose control of one's emotions
  11. verb
    cause to lose control emotionally
    “The news dissolved her into tears”
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    type of:
    discomfit, discompose, disconcert, rattle, untune, upset
    cause to lose one's composure
  12. verb
    become weaker
    synonyms: fade away, fade out
    see moresee less
    type of:
    change state, turn
    undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
Pronunciation
US

/dɪˈzɑlv/

UK

/dɪˈzɒlv/

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