to find the explanation for or solution to (a mystery, problem, etc) to work out the answer to (a problem) to obtain the roots of (an equation)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
solve /sɑlv/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], solved, solv•ing.
solv•er, n. [countable]See -solv-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to find the answer or explanation for:to solve a puzzle.
- Mathematicsto work out the answer or solution to (a mathematical problem):Solve the equation when x is equal to 3.
solv•er, n. [countable]See -solv-.
solve
(solv),USA pronunciation v.t., solved, solv•ing.
solv′er, n.
- to find the answer or explanation for;
clear up;
explain:to solve the mystery of the missing books. - Mathematicsto work out the answer or solution to (a mathematical problem).
- Latin solvere to loosen, free, release, dissolve
- late Middle English solven 1400–50
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged resolve, unravel, untangle, crack.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'solve' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Alliance for Progress
- Band-Aid
- Contadora Group
- Gordian
- Mr. Fixit
- Runge-Kutta method
- absolve
- analog computer
- answer
- bionics
- brainstorm
- brainstorming
- break
- calculate
- can
- clear
- clear up
- clever
- clue
- complexity theory
- consolute
- crack
- crash program
- decide
- decipher
- determinant
- difficult
- dimensional analysis
- dissolve
- exsolve
- figure
- fix
- gaming
- gun
- hammer
- heuristic
- hit
- hitherto
- hopeless
- how
- idiot savant
- insight
- intractable
- leave
- nut
- problem
- program
- psych out
- puzzle
- quandary