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to dissolve

to dissolve

60 4.1
To officially end an organization, agreement, or relationship
  • verb
  • /dɪˈzɑlv/
  • Formal
: 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.