Library / English Dictionary

RESOLVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The trait of being resolute

Example:

it was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work

Synonyms:

firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("resolve" is a kind of...):

trait (a distinguishing feature of your personal nature)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "resolve"):

steadfastness (steadfast resolution)

determination; purpose (the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose)

decision; decisiveness (the trait of resoluteness as evidenced by firmness of character or purpose)

adamance; obduracy; unyieldingness (resoluteness by virtue of being unyielding and inflexible)

single-mindedness (characterized by one unified purpose)

bullheadedness; obstinacy; obstinance; pigheadedness; self-will; stubbornness (resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires)

stiffness (firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action)

sturdiness (resoluteness evidenced by strength of character)

steadiness (freedom from wavering or indecision; constancy of resolve or conduct)

possession; self-command; self-control; self-possession; self-will; will power; willpower (the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote

Synonyms:

declaration; resolution; resolve

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("resolve" is a kind of...):

document; papers; written document (writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "resolve"):

joint resolution (a resolution passed by both houses of Congress which becomes legally binding when signed by the Chief Executive (or passed over the Chief Executive's veto))

Instance hyponyms:

Declaration of Independence (the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the Colonies from Great Britain)

Derivation:

resolve (bring to an end; settle conclusively)

resolve (reach a decision)

resolve (reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to go into a solution

Example:

The recipe says that we should dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water

Synonyms:

break up; dissolve; resolve

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Cause:

dissolve (pass into a solution)

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

melt; melt down; run (reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating)

cut (dissolve by breaking down the fat of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

resolvent (a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Understand the meaning of

Example:

The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered

Synonyms:

answer; resolve

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

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

figure out; lick; puzzle out; solve; work; work out (find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Bring to an end; settle conclusively

Example:

The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance

Synonyms:

adjudicate; decide; resolve; settle

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

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

end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

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

judge (determine the result of (a competition))

adjust (decide how much is to be paid on an insurance claim)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

resolve (a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Reach a decision

Example:

he resolved never to drink again

Synonyms:

purpose; resolve

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

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

decide; determine; make up one's mind (reach, make, or come to a decision about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They resolve to move

Derivation:

resolution (a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner)

resolve (a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Find the solution

Example:

solve for x

Synonyms:

resolve; solve

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "resolve" 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 "resolve"):

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

resolution (finding a solution to a problem)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation

Synonyms:

conclude; resolve

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

agree; concord; concur; hold (be in accord; be in agreement)

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

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

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

resolve (a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Make clearly visible

Example:

can this image be resolved?

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

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

discern; distinguish; make out; pick out; recognise; recognize; spot; tell apart (detect with the senses)

Domain category:

optics (the branch of physics that studies the physical properties of light)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

resolving (analysis into clear-cut components)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Undersensing manifests as failure to sense appropriate cardiac depolarizations that cannot be resolved with reprogramming.

(Cardiac Device Undersensing, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

A type of DNA repair that uses homologous recombination to resolve chromosomal double strand breaks.

(Break-Induced Replication, NCI Thesaurus)

But characterizing stem cells and controlling their fate must be resolved before using them in treatments.

(Better biosensor technology created for stem cells, National Science Foundation)

The technique may open the door to more efficient and highly resolved investigations of chemical distributions in individual cells.

(Cell chemistry illuminated by laser light, National Science Foundation)

This gene may play a role in the repair of DNA damage that is resolved by recombination.

(PALB2 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein may play roles in cell cycle checkpoints and the repair of damaged DNA resolved by recombination.

(Partner and Localizer of BRCA2, NCI Thesaurus)

When alone, Safie resolved in her own mind the plan of conduct that it would become her to pursue in this emergency.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

In the image, the disk of Uranus is just barely resolved.

(Cassini spies the ice-giant planet Uranus, NASA)

The Wi-Fi Alliance said it "could be resolved through a straightforward software update."

(Digital security researchers publicly reveal vulnerability in WPA2 WiFi protocol, Wikinews)

“Ah!” She drew in her breath sharply as one whose doubts are resolved.

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