rɪˈzɔlv v. & n. --v. 1 intr.
make up one's
mind;
decide firmly (resolve to do better). 2 tr. (of circumstances etc.)
cause (a person) to do
this (events
resolved him to leave). 3 tr. (foll. by
that + clause) (of an
assembly or meeting) pass a
resolution by
vote (the
committee resolved that
immediate action should be taken). 4 intr. & tr. (often foll. by into)
separate or cause to separate
into constituent parts;
disintegrate;
analyse;
dissolve. 5 tr. (of
optical or photographic equipment) separate or
distinguish between closely
adjacent objects. 6 tr. & intr. (foll. by into)
convert or be converted. 7 tr. & intr. (foll. by into)
reduce by
mental analysis into. 8 tr.
solve;
explain;
clear up; settle (doubt,
argument, etc.). 9 tr. & intr. Mus. convert or be converted into
concord. 10 tr.
Med.
remove (inflammation etc.)
without suppuration. 11 tr.
Prosody replace (a long syllable) by
two short syllables. 12 tr. Mech. replace (a force etc.) by two or
more jointly
equivalent to
it. --n. 1 a a firm mental
decision or
intention; a resolution (made a resolve
not to go). b US a
formal resolution by a
legislative body or
public meeting. 2 resoluteness; steadfastness. øresolving
power an instrument's
ability to distinguish
very small or very close objects. øøresolvable adj. resolvability n. resolver n. [ME f. L resolvere resolut(as
RE-, SOLVE)]
