dissolve

present singular third person dissolves · participle present dissolving · participle past dissolved · past dissolved

1. transitiveTo terminate a union of multiple members actively, as by disbanding.

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

   Antonyms: establish, found

2. transitiveTo destroy, make disappear.
3. transitiveTo liquify, melt into a fluid.

   as if the world were all dissolved to tears

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

   Synonyms: melt, formelt

4. intransitiveTo be melted, changed into a fluid.
5. physicaltransitivechemistryTo disintegrate chemically into a solution by immersion into a liquid or other material.

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

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 65

6. intransitivephysicalchemistryTo be disintegrated by such immersion.
7. transitiveTo disperse, drive apart a group of persons.

   Nothing can dissolve us.

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]

8. transitiveTo break the continuity of; to disconnect; to loosen; to undo; to separate.

   Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder.

   1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC

   1 more example

   For one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another.

   1776, The Declaration of Independence

9. transitivelawTo annul; to rescind; to discharge or release.

   to dissolve an injunction

   1 more example

   Jon Snow is the legitimate heir to the Targaryen line, by the old rules, of the old government, which was dissolved and reshaped by King Robert.

   2017 August 13, Brandon Nowalk, “Oldtown offers one last game-changing secret as Game Of Thrones goes behind enemy lines (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 17 Aug 2017

10. intransitivebroadcastingTo shift from one shot to another by having the former fade out as the latter fades in.

    Synonyms: fade out

11. intransitiveTo resolve itself as by dissolution.
12. obsoleteTo solve; to clear up; to resolve.

    dissolved the mystery

    1842, Alfred Tennyson, “A Dream of Fair Women”, in Poems. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

    1 more example

    Make interpretations and dissolve doubts.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 5:16

13. 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.

    1674 (date written), John Dryden, “The Authors Apology for Heroique Poetry; and Poetique Licence”, in The State of Innocence, and Fall of Man: An Opera. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1677, →OCLC, page 29

14. mediaTo separate a ligature into its component letters.

plural dissolves

1. broadcastinga 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)

   1986 April 19, Michael Bronski, “Two Views on Desert Hearts: Sexy? or simply Slow?”, in Gay Community News, page 9

   Synonyms: fade out