dissolve

To dissolve is defined as to become broken up or absorbed by something or to disappear into something else.

(verb)

When sugar becomes absorbed into water, this is an example of when sugar dissolves into water.
When a club breaks up and the members go their separate ways, this is an example of a time when the club dissolves.
When you break down into tears, this is an example of a time when you dissolve into tears.

See dissolve in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb dissolved, dissolving

Origin: ME dissolven < L dissolvere, to loosen < dis-, apart + solvere, to loosen: see solve

noun

lap dissolve

Related Forms:

See dissolve in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb dis·solved, dis·solv·ing, dis·solves

verb, transitive

To cause to pass into solution: dissolve salt in water.
To reduce (solid matter) to liquid form; melt.
To cause to disappear or vanish; dispel.
To break into component parts; disintegrate.
To bring to an end by or as if by breaking up; terminate.
To dismiss (a legislative body, for example): dissolved parliament and called for new elections.
To cause to break down emotionally or psychologically; upset.
To cause to lose definition; blur; confuse: “Morality has finally been dissolved in pity” (Leslie Fiedler).
Law To annul; abrogate.

verb, intransitive

To pass into solution.
To become liquid; melt.
To break up or disperse.
To become disintegrated; disappear.
To be overcome emotionally or psychologically: I dissolved into helpless laughter.
To lose clarity or definition; fade away.
To shift shots in a motion-picture film or videotape by having one shot fade out while the next appears behind it and grows clearer as the first one dims.

noun

A transition in a motion-picture film or videotape made by fading out one shot while the next one grows clearer. Also called lap dissolve.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English dissolven

Origin: , from Latin dissolvere

Origin: : dis-, dis-

Origin: + solvere, to release; see leu- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: