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to dissolve

to dissolve

60 4.1
To officially end an organization, agreement, or relationship
  • verb
  • /dɪˈzɑlv/
  • Formal
translation icon : disolver
  • Parliament had been dissolved again.
  • dissolve the government
  • dissolve parliament
  • dissolve the marriage

Well, yes, courts have dissolved nonprofits when they commit serious fraud.

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Examples

Synonyms

to break up
vsto dissolve
152 3.4

Make a group of people leave or spread out

is an official terminating act rather than merely dispersing people
to split up
vsto dissolve
  • Informal
137 2.7

To end a close relationship and go separate ways

is a formal ending that applies beyond personal relationships
to abolish
vsto dissolve
112 4.1

To officially end a law, system, or practice

is used for formal endings of groups agreements or relationships
to disband
vsto dissolve
43 4.3

To stop being a group, for example a band or committee

is a formal or official ending rather than mere stopping of activity
to break apart
vsto dissolve
26 3.0

To separate into pieces, for example a machine or a group

is a formal ending of organizations not general physical separation
to close its doors
vsto dissolve
17 4.0

To permanently stop operating as a business or organization

is a formal legal ending not only business closure
to denounce
vsto dissolve
  • Formal
2 6.8

Formally end an agreement such as a treaty

ends an organization or relationship rather than merely announcing it
to fold up
vsto dissolve
1 4.4

Close a shop or business and stop trading

is a formal ending rather than informal business failure closure
to terminate the contract
vsto dissolve
  • Formal
1 4.6

End an agreement before it finishes

is a general formal ending not limited to contracts
to disincorporate
vsto dissolve
  • Formal
9.3

End the legal existence of a company, organization, or town

is a formal end applied to organizations or agreements in general

Antonyms

1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

772 4.1

To start something that is meant to last

How Final

to abolish
112 4.1
to dissolve
  • Formal
60 4.1
to terminate
  • Formal
90 5.5
to break up
152 3.4
to suspend
141 3.9

Surface Forms

dissolve infinitive
dissolved past
dissolved past participle
dissolving present participle
dissolves third person singular

Morphology

dissolve = solve (semi-transparent) = dis + solve

The 'break up/terminate' sense can be linked to a general idea of 'dis-' (apart) + a verbal root meaning 'loosen', but learners who know only modern 'solve' may not reliably infer it.

Etymology

Dissolve comes from the parts dis- 'apart' and solve 'loosen', like in solution. So when a partnership or committee dissolves, the ties between people are 'loosened apart' and the group ends.