Adjacent Words

Solvent definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SOLV'ENT, a.
1. Having the power of dissolving; as a solvent body.
2. Able to pay all just debts. The merchant is solvent.
3. Sufficient to pay all just debts. The estate is solvent.
SOLV'ENT, n. A fluid that dissolves any substance, is called the solvent.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: capable of meeting financial obligations [ant: insolvent] n
1: a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances; "the solvent does not change its state in forming a solution" [syn: solvent, dissolvent, dissolver, dissolving agent, resolvent]
2: a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem; "they were trying to find a peaceful solution"; "the answers were in the back of the book"; "he computed the result to four decimal places" [syn: solution, answer, result, resolution, solvent]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Latin solvent-, solvens, present participle of solvere to dissolve, pay Date: 1630 1. able to pay all legal debts <a solvent company> 2. that dissolves or can dissolve <solvent action of water> • solvently adverb II. noun Date: 1671 1. a usually liquid substance capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances 2. something that provides a solution 3. something that eliminates or attenuates something especially unwanted • solventless adjective

Britannica Concise

Substance, ordinarily a liquid, in which other materials dissolve to form a solution. Polar solvents (e.g., water) favor formation of ions; nonpolar ones (e.g., hydrocarbons) do not. Solvents may be predominantly acidic, predominantly basic, amphoteric (both), or aprotic (neither). Organic compounds used as solvents include aromatic compounds and other hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, amines, and nitrated and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Their chief uses are as industrial cleaners, in extractive processes, in pharmaceuticals, in inks, and in paints, varnishes, and lacquers.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & n. --adj. 1 able to dissolve or form a solution with something. 2 having enough money to meet one's liabilities. --n. 1 a solvent liquid etc. 2 a dissolving or weakening agent. Derivatives: solvency n. (in sense 2).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Solvent Sol"vent, n. (Chem.) A substance (usually liquid) suitable for, or employed in, solution, or in dissolving something; as, water is the appropriate solvent of most salts, alcohol of resins, ether of fats, and mercury or acids of metals, etc. 2. That which resolves; as, a solvent of mystery.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Solvent Sol"vent (s[o^]l"vent), a. [L. solvens, p. pr. of solvere. See Solvable.] 1. Having the power of dissolving; dissolving; as, a solvent fluid. ``the solvent body.'' --Boyle. 2. Able or sufficient to pay all just debts; as, a solvent merchant; the estate is solvent.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(solvents) 1. If a person or a company is solvent, they have enough money to pay all their debts. (BUSINESS) They're going to have to show that the company is now solvent. ? insolvent ADJ: usu v-link ADJ 2. A solvent is a liquid that can dissolve other substances. ...a small amount of cleaning solvent. ...industrial solvents. N-MASS

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Menstrum.

Moby Thesaurus

ablative, able to pay, above water, abstergent, acetone, alcohol, all clear, all straight, anticoagulant, aqua regia, benzine, biodegradable, carbolic acid, carbon tet, carbon tetrachloride, cathartic, chloroform, cleaner, cleaning agent, cleaning solvent, cleanser, cleansing cream, clear, cold cream, corrosive, cream, cutting, decomposable, decomposing, degradable, dentifrice, depurant, detergent, dilapidated, diluent, dilutant, disintegrable, disintegrated, disintegrating, disintegrative, disjunctive, disruptive, dissolvent, dissolving agent, diuretic, emetic, enema, erosive, ether, flux, free and clear, gasoline, good, good for, holystone, liquefacient, liquefier, lotion, moldering, mouthwash, nauseant, out of debt, phenol, profitable, pumice stone, purgative, purge, purifier, ravaged, reliable, resolutive, resolvent, rinse, ruinous, separative, shampoo, soap, solid, sound, substantial, synthetic detergent, thinner, thinning, tooth powder, toothpaste, turpentine, unindebted, unowing, wash, water, worn