solve

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /sɒlv/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /sɑlv/ or /sɔlv/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form solve

Third-person singular solves

Past tense solved

Past participle solved

Present participle solving

1. (transitive) If you solve a problem, you fix it or deal with it.

   "My kids always make a mess of my computer." "Well, you can easily solve the problem by not allowing them to use it."

2. (transitive & intransitive) If you solve a question, you find a correct answer.

   In the equation $3x^{2}+x-2=0$ we can solve for $x$.

Related words

• solvable
• unsolvable