Dissolve Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

1

of something solid

:

to mix with a liquid and become part of the liquid

[no object]

• Sugar/salt dissolves in water.

[+ object]

• Dissolve the tablet in water.

2

[+ object]

formal

:

to officially end (something, such as a marriage, organization, or agreement)

• She dissolved [=_terminated_] their partnership.

— often used as (be) dissolved

• The marriage/business/government was dissolved.
• The company has been dissolved.

3

somewhat formal

:

to end or disappear or cause (something) to end or disappear

[no object]

• His smile dissolved [=_disappeared_] when I told him the news.
• Hopes for peace dissolved in renewed violence.

[+ object]

• His kind words dissolved her sadness.
• The treatment is used to dissolve kidney stones.

◊ If you dissolve in/into tears/laughter, etc., you start to cry, laugh, etc., in an uncontrolled way.

• The audience dissolved into tears during the play's final scene.
• The children dissolved into laughter/giggles.