SOLVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does solve mean? 

• SOLVE (verb)
  The verb SOLVE has 3 senses:

1. find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

2. find the solution

3. settle, as of a debt

  Familiarity information: SOLVE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SOLVE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they solve    ... he / she / it solves   
Past simple: solved   
Past participle: solved   
-ing form: solving   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

figure out; lick; puzzle out; solve; work; work out

Context example:

He could not work the math problem

Hypernyms (to "solve" is one way to...):

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

"Solve" entails doing...:

reason (think logically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "solve"):

answer; resolve (understand the meaning of)

riddle (explain a riddle)

strike (arrive at after reckoning, deliberating, and weighing)

guess; infer (guess correctly; solve by guessing)

answer (give the correct answer or solution to)

break (find the solution or key to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

solution (the successful action of solving a problem)

solvent (a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem)

solver (a thinker who focuses on the problem as stated and tries to synthesize information and knowledge to achieve a solution)

solving (finding a solution to a problem)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Find the solution

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

resolve; solve

Context example:

solve for x

Hypernyms (to "solve" is one way to...):

calculate; cipher; compute; cypher; figure; reckon; work out (make a mathematical calculation or computation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "solve"):

factorise; factorize (resolve (a polynomial) into factors)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

solver (a thinker who focuses on the problem as stated and tries to synthesize information and knowledge to achieve a solution)

solving (finding a solution to a problem)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Settle, as of a debt

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

clear; solve

Context example:

solve an old debt

Hypernyms (to "solve" is one way to...):

determine; settle; square off; square up (settle conclusively; come to terms)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

solvent (capable of meeting financial obligations)

 Context examples 

Research directed toward solving a specific problem.

(Applied Research, NCI Thesaurus)

“Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem,” said our client, rising.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

These questions continually recurred, but I was unable to solve them.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

If we could get the rest of that sheet it is obvious that we should have gone a long way towards solving the mystery.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A condition in which a person loses the ability to think, remember, learn, make decisions, and solve problems.

(Dementia, NCI Dictionary)

“You have solved it!” I cried.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions.

(Dementia, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

The utilization or development of computer programs to solve, analyze, understand or manage any simple or complex task.

(Computational Technique, NCI Thesaurus)

The problem of my conduct was solved.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

It’s a vital international problem that you have to solve.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)