1. The process of ending or breaking up:
* Formal Ending: This is often used in legal or official contexts, such as the dissolution of a marriage or the dissolution of a company. It suggests a formal process of ending something that was previously established.
* Gradual Breakdown: This can also be used in a more general sense, to describe the gradual breakdown or disintegration of something. For example, "the dissolution of the Roman Empire" suggests a slow and gradual decline.
2. Dissolving into a liquid:
* Chemical Reaction: In chemistry, dissolution refers to the process of a solid substance dissolving into a liquid, such as salt dissolving in water.
3. Loss of Control or Self-Discipline:
* Moral Decline: This sense of dissolution describes a loss of control, discipline, or moral standards. It can be applied to individuals or groups, suggesting a weakening of values or a descent into vice.
Example Sentences:
* Formal Ending: "The dissolution of the marriage was finalized in court."
* Gradual Breakdown: "The dissolution of their friendship was gradual and painful."
* Chemical Reaction: "The dissolution of sugar in water is a physical change."
* Moral Decline: "The book explores the themes of social dissolution and the breakdown of civilization."
To understand the specific meaning of "dissolution," pay attention to the context in which it is used.