Dissolve

//dɪˈzɒlv// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    a form of film punctuation in which there is a gradual transition from one scene to the next

    "While most of the film is done in medium and long shots (connected with dissolves and wipes which lend a lovely period effect)"

  2. 2
    (film) a gradual transition from one scene to the next; the next scene is gradually superimposed as the former scene fades out wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To terminate a union of multiple members actively, as by disbanding. transitive

    "The ruling party or coalition sometimes dissolves parliament early when the polls are favorable, hoping to reconvene with a larger majority."

  2. 2
    declare void wordnet
  3. 3
    To destroy, make disappear. transitive
  4. 4
    come to an end (of a state) wordnet
  5. 5
    To liquify, melt into a fluid. transitive

    "as if the world were all dissolved to tears"

Show 20 more definitions
  1. 6
    bring the association of to an end or cause to break up wordnet
  2. 7
    To be melted, changed into a fluid. intransitive
  3. 8
    become or cause to become soft or liquid wordnet
  4. 9
    To disintegrate chemically into a solution by immersion into a liquid or other material. physical, transitive

    "There was a legend that Cleopatra was accustomed to dissolve pearls in vinegar and drink the fluid in order to promote her amorousness."

  5. 10
    pass into a solution wordnet
  6. 11
    To be disintegrated by such immersion. intransitive, physical
  7. 12
    cause to go into a solution wordnet
  8. 13
    To disperse, drive apart a group of persons. transitive

    "Nothing can dissolve us."

  9. 14
    grow less and less substantial until it disappears wordnet
  10. 15
    To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to loosen; to undo; to separate. transitive

    "Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder."

  11. 16
    cause to fade away wordnet
  12. 17
    To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release. transitive

    "to dissolve an injunction"

  13. 18
    lose control emotionally wordnet
  14. 19
    To shift from one shot to another by having the former fade out as the latter fades in. intransitive
  15. 20
    cause to lose control emotionally wordnet
  16. 21
    To resolve itself as by dissolution. intransitive
  17. 22
    stop functioning or cohering as a unit wordnet
  18. 23
    To solve; to clear up; to resolve. obsolete

    "dissolved the mystery"

  19. 24
    To relax by pleasure; to make powerless.

    "Seraph and Cherub, careleſs of their charge, / And wanton, in full eaſe now live at large: / Unguarded leave the paſſes of the Sky; / And all diſſolv'd in Hallelujahs lye."

  20. 25
    To separate a ligature into its component letters.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Recorded since c. 1374 (displacing Old English toliesan) as Middle English dissolven, from Latin dissolvere (“to loosen up, break apart”) but with the sense from Anglo-Norman dissoldre (variant of Old French dissoudre), itself from dis- (“apart”) + solvere (“to loose, loosen”). By surface analysis, dis- + solve.

Etymology 2

Recorded since c. 1374 (displacing Old English toliesan) as Middle English dissolven, from Latin dissolvere (“to loosen up, break apart”) but with the sense from Anglo-Norman dissoldre (variant of Old French dissoudre), itself from dis- (“apart”) + solvere (“to loose, loosen”). By surface analysis, dis- + solve.

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