solve
/sɒlv/ verb, noun
- verb To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.
- verb to find out the perpetrator, the motive etc (of crime) “to solve a murder to solve a crime”
- verb (mathematics) To find the values of variables that satisfy a system of equations and/or inequalities.
- verb (mathematics) To algebraically manipulate an equation or inequality into a form that isolates a chosen variable on one side, so that the other side consists of an expression that may be used to generate solutions.
- verb (transitive) To loosen or separate the parts of.
- verb (chemistry, archaic) To dissolve
- noun (now rare, chiefly law enforcement) A solution; an explanation.
Synonyms
decipher resolve unriddle absolve get to the bottom of iron out meliorate puzzle out ravel reason out riddle sleuth tease out think out unpuzzle unravel unsolve upsolve work out Any from Thesaurus:untangle figure out lick work clear
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English solven, from Latin solvō.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To explain; to resolve; to unfold; to clear up out to a result or conclusion; as, to solve a doubt; to solve difficulties; to solve a problem.
- noun A solution; an explanation. [Obs.] Shak.
Etymology [L. solvere, solutum; from a prefix so- expressing separation (cf. Sober) + luere to loosen; cf. OF. soldre, soudre. See Loose, and cf. Absolve.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “solve”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details