resolving power

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.The act, operation, or process of resolving. Specifically: (a) The act of separating a compound into its elements or component parts. (b) The act of analyzing a complex notion, or solving a vexed question or difficult problem. [1913 Webster]

The unraveling and resolution of the difficulties that are met with in the execution of the design are the end of an action.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

2.The state of being relaxed; relaxation. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

3.The state of being resolved, settled, or determined; firmness; steadiness; constancy; determination. [1913 Webster]

Be it with resolution then to fight.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose; determination. Specifically: A formal expression of the opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly, adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the resolutions of a public meeting. [1913 Webster]

5.The state of being resolved or firm in opinion or thought; conviction; assurance. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Little resolution and certainty there is as touching the islands of Mauritania.— Holland.[1913 Webster]

6.(Math.) The act or process of solving; solution; as, the resolution of an equation or problem. [1913 Webster]

7.(Med.) A breaking up, disappearance; or termination, as of a fever, a tumor, or the like. [1913 Webster]

8.(Mus.) The passing of a dissonant into a consonant chord by the rising or falling of the note which makes the discord. [1913 Webster]

9.(Technical) The act of distinguishing between two close but not identical objects, or, when taking a measurement, bbetween two close values of the property measured. [PJC]

10.(Technical) a measure of the ability to distinguish between two close but not identical values of the property being measured; it is expressed as the difference in values of a property necessary to make such a distinction; as, a microscope with a resolution of one micron; a thermometer with a resolution of one-tenth of a degree. Also called resolving power. [PJC]

Joint resolution. See under Joint, a.

Resolution of a force or Resolution of a motion (Mech.), the separation of a single force or motion into two or more which have different directions, and, taken together, are an equivalent for the single one; -- the opposite of composition of a force.

Resolution of a nebula (Astron.), the exhibition of it to the eye by a telescope of such power as to show it to be composed of small stars. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Decision; analysis; separation; disentanglement; dissolution; resolvedness; resoluteness; firmness; constancy; perseverance; steadfastness; fortitude; boldness; purpose; resolve. See Decision. [1913 Webster]