solve

2. ~ sth to find the correct answer or explanation for sth
• to solve an equation/a puzzle/a riddle
• to solve a crime/mystery

Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘loosen, dissolve, untie’): from Latin solvere ‘loosen, unfasten’.
Thesaurus:
solve verb
1. T
• You can't solve your difficulties by running away.
resolve • • settle • • straighten sb/sth out • |especially BrE, especially spoken sort sth out • • sort •
solve/resolve/settle/straighten out/sort out problem/situation/dispute/crisis
solve/resolve/settle things
straighten/sort things out
2. T
• The mystery has not yet been solved.
do • • clear sth up • • crack • |especially BrE, especially spoken work sth out • |especially AmE, especially spoken figure sb/sth out •
solve/do/work out a/an puzzle/equation
solve/clear up/crack a case/mystery
solve/clear up a crime/murder/investigation
Example Bank:
• Being with friends does not necessarily solve my problem.
• Being with peers and friends does not necessarily solve this feeling of loneliness.
• It doesn't really solve the problem.
• She's really good at solving problems.
• The mystery has not yet been completely solved.
• The problem cannot be solved with spending cuts alone.
• This question has never been satisfactorily solved.
• We hope the difficulty can be solved by getting the two sides together to discuss the issues.
• We need to focus on solving the country's problem.
• We were given clues to help us solve the puzzle.
• a plan designed to solve the housing problem
• research aimed at solving the growing problem of child obesity
• their appeal for help in solving the case
• Attempts are being made to solve the problem of waste disposal in the town.
• The Board met several times last week to try to solve the firm's financial crisis.
• Unemployment will not be solved by offering low-paid jobs in call centres.