English Dictionary
Definition of “solve”
solve (sɒlv
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to find the explanation for or solution to (a mystery, problem, etc)
- mathematics
- to work out the answer to (a problem)
- to obtain the roots of (an equation)
Alternative Forms
ˈsolver noun Word Origin
C15: from Latin solvere to loosen, release, free from debt
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
answer,
work out,
resolve,
explain,
crack,
interpret,
unfold,
clarify,
clear up,
unravel,
decipher,
expound,
suss (out)
get to the bottom of,
disentangle,
elucidate,
Translations
- British English:
solve
If you solve a problem or a question, you find a solution or an answer to it.Violence won't solve anything.sɒlv VERB Violence won't solve anything.
- Spanish:
resolver
v
- French:
résoudre
vt
- German:
lösen
v
- Chinese: 解决 v
- Arabic: يُحِلُّ v
- Portuguese: resolver v
- Russian: разрешить v
- Croatian: riješiti v
- Czech: vyřešit v řešit
- Danish: løse v
- Dutch: oplossen v
- Finnish: ratkaista v
- Greek: λύνω v
- Italian: risolvere v
- Japanese: 解決する v
- Korean: 해결하다 v
- Norwegian: løse v
- Polish: rozwiązać v rozwiązywać
- Brazilian Portuguese: resolver v
- European Spanish:
resolver
v
- Swedish: lösa v
- Thai: แก้ปัญหา v
- Turkish: çözmek v
- Vietnamese: giải v
Usage examples
I needed quite a few more pieces before attempting to solve the puzzle.
Gagman, Maurice, Doubtful Motives (1987)Yes, taxpayers nationwide are footing the bill because Pennsylvania can't solve its own education crisis.
Maxim (2004)She said only extra beds would solve the overcrowding in A&E, over which the nurses were protesting.
Irish Times (2002)The inclusion of Gala Fairydean in their plan could solve the problem of the quality of playing surface available.
Glasgow Herald (2002)Just sitting there, wishing you had decided differently 20 years ago does not solve the problem.
Vera Peiffer, POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but were afraid to put into practice (2001)
