[syn: dissolve, dismiss]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.]
1. 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.
[1913 Webster]
Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to
sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate.
[1913 Webster]
Nothing can dissolve us. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder.
--Fairfax.
[1913 Webster]
For one people to dissolve the political bands which
have connected them with another. --The
Declaration of
Independence.
[1913 Webster]
3. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture,
etc.,; to melt; to liquefy; to soften.
[1913 Webster]
As if the world were all dissolved to tears. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. To solve; to clear up; to resolve. "Dissolved the
mystery." --Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
Make interpretations and dissolve doubts. --Dan. v.
16.
[1913 Webster]
5. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless.
[1913 Webster]
Angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
6. (Law) To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as,
to dissolve an injunction.
Syn: See Adjourn.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dissolve \Dis*solve"\, v. i.
1. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or
broken up.
[1913 Webster]
2. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied.
[1913 Webster]
A figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power.
[1913 Webster]
The charm dissolves apace. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dissolve
n 1: (film) a gradual transition from one scene to the next; the
next scene is gradually superimposed as the former scene
fades out
v 1: become weaker; "The sound faded out" [syn: dissolve,
fade out, fade away]
2: cause to go into a solution; "The recipe says that we should
dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water" [syn:
dissolve, resolve, break up]
3: come to an end; "Their marriage dissolved"; "The tobacco
monopoly broke up" [syn: dissolve, break up]
4: stop functioning or cohering as a unit; "The political wing
of the party dissolved after much internal fighting" [syn:
disband, dissolve]
5: cause to lose control emotionally; "The news dissolved her
into tears"
6: lose control emotionally; "She dissolved into tears when she
heard that she had lost all her savings in the pyramid
scheme"
7: cause to fade away; "dissolve a shot or a picture"
8: pass into a solution; "The sugar quickly dissolved in the
coffee"
9: 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" [syn:
dissolve, thaw, unfreeze, unthaw, dethaw, melt]
10: bring the association of to an end or cause to break up;
"The decree officially dissolved the marriage"; "the judge
dissolved the tobacco company" [syn: dissolve, break up]
11: declare void; "The President dissolved the parliament and
called for new elections" [syn: dissolve, dismiss]