Solution

solution
    n 1: a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently
         (but not necessarily) a liquid solution; "he used a
         solution of peroxide and water"
    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}]
    3: a method for solving a problem; "the easy solution is to look
       it up in the handbook"
    4: the set of values that give a true statement when substituted
       into an equation [syn: {solution}, {root}]
    5: the successful action of solving a problem; "the solution
       took three hours"
    

Solution \So*lu"tion\ (s[-o]*l[=u]"sh[u^]n), n. [OE. solucion,
   OF. solucion, F. solution, fr. L. solutio, fr. solvere,
   solutum, to loosen, dissolve. See {Solve}.]
   1. The act of separating the parts of any body, or the
      condition of undergoing a separation of parts; disruption;
      breach.
      [1913 Webster]

            In all bodies there is an appetite of union and
            evitation of solution of continuity.  --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The act of solving, or the state of being solved; the
      disentanglement of any intricate problem or difficult
      question; explanation; clearing up; -- used especially in
      mathematics, either of the process of solving an equation
      or problem, or the result of the process.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The state of being dissolved or disintegrated; resolution;
      disintegration.
      [1913 Webster]

            It is unquestionably an enterprise of more promise
            to assail the nations in their hour of faintness and
            solution, than at a time when magnificent and
            seductive systems of worship were at their height of
            energy and splendor.                  --I. Taylor.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Chem.Phys.) The act or process by which a body (whether
      solid, liquid, or gaseous) is absorbed into a liquid, and,
      remaining or becoming fluid, is diffused throughout the
      solvent; also, the product resulting from such absorption.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: When a solvent will not take in any more of a substance
         the solution is said to be saturated. Solution is of
         two kinds; viz.: (a) {Mechanical solution}, in which no
         marked chemical change takes place, and in which, in
         the case of solids, the dissolved body can be regained
         by evaporation, as in the solution of salt or sugar in
         water. (b) {Chemical solution}, in which there is
         involved a decided chemical change, as when limestone
         or zinc undergoes solution in hydrochloric acid.
         {Mechanical solution} is regarded as a form of
         molecular or atomic attraction, and is probably
         occasioned by the formation of certain very weak and
         unstable compounds which are easily dissociated and
         pass into new and similar compounds.
         [1913 Webster]

   Note: This word is not used in chemistry or mineralogy for
         fusion, or the melting of bodies by the heat of fire.
         [1913 Webster]

   5. Release; deliverance; discharge. [Obs.] --Barrow.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. (Med.)
      (a) The termination of a disease; resolution.
      (b) A crisis.
      (c) A liquid medicine or preparation (usually aqueous) in
          which the solid ingredients are wholly soluble. --U.
          S. Disp.
          [1913 Webster]

   {Fehling's solution} (Chem.), a standardized solution of
      cupric hydrate in sodium potassium tartrate, used as a
      means of determining the reducing power of certain sugars
      and sirups by the amount of red cuprous oxide thrown down.
      

   {Heavy solution} (Min.), a liquid of high density, as a
      solution of mercuric iodide in potassium iodide (called
      the {Sonstadt solution} or {Thoulet solution}) having a
      maximum specific gravity of 3.2, or of borotungstate of
      cadium ({Klein solution}, specific gravity 3.6), and the
      like. Such solutions are much used in determining the
      specific gravities of minerals, and in separating them
      when mechanically mixed as in a pulverized rock.

   {Nessler's solution}. See {Nesslerize}.

   {Solution of continuity}, the separation of connection, or of
      connected substances or parts; -- applied, in surgery, to
      a fracture, laceration, or the like. "As in the natural
      body a wound, or solution of continuity, is worse than a
      corrupt humor, so in the spiritual." --Bacon.

   {Standardized solution} (Chem.), a solution which is used as
      a reagent, and is of a known and standard strength;
      specifically, a normal solution, containing in each cubic
      centimeter as many milligrams of the element in question
      as the number representing its atomic weight; thus, a
      normal solution of silver nitrate would contain 107.7 mgr.
      of silver in each cubic centimeter.
      [1913 Webster]
    

solution

   <jargon> A {marketroid} term for something he wants to sell
   you without bothering you with the often dizzying distinctions
   between {hardware}, {software}, {services}, {applications},
   {file formats}, companies, brand names and {operating
   systems}.

   "{Flash} is a perfect image-streaming solution."  "What is
   it?"  "Um...  about a thousand dollars."

   See also: {technology}.

   (1998-07-07)
    

SOLUTION, civil law. Payment. 
     2. By this term, is understood, every species of discharge or 
liberation, which is called satisfaction, and with which the creditor is 
satisfied. Dig. 46, 3, 54; Code 8, 43, 17; Inst. 3, 30. This term has rather 
a reference to the substance of the obligation, than to the numeration or 
counting of the money. Dig. 50, 16, 176. Vide Discharge of a contract. 
    

125 Moby Thesaurus words for "solution":
      action, ad hoc measure, adaptation, allegorization, answer,
      arrangement, artifice, blend, chemical solution, clarification,
      colliquation, compound, conclusion, contrivance, countermove, coup,
      course of action, cracking, decipherment, decoagulation, decoction,
      decoding, deliquescence, deliquium, demarche, demonstration,
      demythologization, denouement, device, discovery, dissolution,
      dissolving, dodge, editing, effort, elucidation, emendation,
      emulsion, enlightenment, euhemerism, exegesis, exemplification,
      expedient, explanation, explication, exposition, expounding,
      finding out, fluid, fluidification, fluidization, fusing, fusion,
      gimmick, harmonization, illumination, illustration, improvisation,
      infusion, instrumentation, intonation, jury-rig,
      jury-rigged expedient, key, last expedient, last resort,
      last shift, leach, leachate, leaching, light, liquefaction,
      liquescence, liquescency, liquid, lixiviation, lixivium, makeshift,
      maneuver, means, measure, melting, mixing, mixture, modulation,
      move, orchestration, outcome, percolation, phrasing, pis aller,
      preparation, rationale, reason, resolution, resort, resource,
      result, revelation, running, setting, settlement, settling,
      shake-up, shift, simplification, solubilization, solving, step,
      stopgap, stratagem, stroke, stroke of policy, suspension, tactic,
      temporary expedient, thawing, tone painting, transcription, trick,
      trump, unclotting, unlocking, working hypothesis,
      working proposition