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Solve Common

Solve has 5 different meanings across 1 category:

Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

A solution; an explanation.

"After hours of confusion, she finally solved the mystery of who took the last cookie."

"The solution to the mystery was finally revealed at the end of the movie."

Verb
1

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

"did you solve the problem?"

"Work out your problems with the boss"

"this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"

"did you get it?"

"Did you get my meaning?"

"He could not work the math problem"

2

find the solution

"solve an equation"

"solve for x"

3

settle, as of a debt

"clear a debt"

"solve an old debt"

4

To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.

"The detective finally solved the mystery by discovering who left the broken window open all those years ago."

In plain English: To solve means to find the answer to a problem or figure out how something works.

"She managed to solve the math problem with ease."

Usage: Use solve when you successfully determine the correct answer to a puzzle, math equation, or complex issue through reasoning. Do not use it interchangeably with fix for mechanical repairs or cure for illnesses, as those require different verbs like repair or heal.

Example Sentences
"The solution to the mystery was finally revealed at the end of the movie." noun
"She managed to solve the math problem with ease." verb
"She managed to solve the complex math problem during lunch break." verb
"The detective worked late into the night to solve the mysterious theft." verb
"You can solve this puzzle by thinking outside the box." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
understand calculate settle
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
answer riddle strike guess break factorize

Origin

The word solve comes from the Latin verb solvō, which originally meant to loosen or untie. It traveled into English through Middle English as solven before evolving into its current form.

Rhyming Words
lve elve calve halve salve wolve volve valve yelve helve delve exolve evolve twelve shelve d valve bivalve indelve undelve sprelve
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