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solution
/səˈl(j)uːʃən/
When referring to solving a problem, "solution" is usually followed by the preposition "to" (e.g., "the solution to the problem"), not "of". In chemistry, it refers specifically to a homogeneous mixture where a solute is dissolved in a solvent. Depending on the context, this word can be countable ("We found several solutions") or uncountable when referring to the liquid substance in general.
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Meanings
Examples
We finally found a solution to the leak!
Listen, this is the only solution for your crashing PC.
I just can't find the solution to this damn riddle!
Wait, is that a saline solution or just plain water?
The solution to this conflict is for both of you to apologize.
I think we have a viable solution for the budget gap.
Did you mix the chemical solution correctly this time?
Look, I'm just trying to find a solution here!
Collocations & Compounds
viable solution
A solution that is capable of working successfully.
aqueous solution
A solution in which the solvent is water.
long-term solution
A way of solving a problem that will be effective over a long period of time.
ultimate solution
The final or most successful answer to a problem.
saturated solution
A chemical solution containing the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved.
Cultural Context
At first glance, the word "solution" seems to lead a double life. In one breath, we are talking about a chemist mixing a solute into a solvent to create a homogeneous liquid; in the next, we are discussing a mathematician solving for X or a diplomat finding a way to end a conflict. This linguistic duality isn't an accident of history, but rather a reflection of how humans perceive the act of "resolving" something.
The etymological root lies in the Latin 'solvere', meaning to loosen, untie, or dissolve. When you dissolve a salt crystal in water, you are literally loosening the molecular bonds that hold the solid together. You are breaking down a complex structure into its simplest, most fluid form.
Fascinatingly, this is exactly what we do when we seek a solution to a difficult life problem or a complex riddle. We take a "knotted" situation—a problem that feels tight, restrictive, and impenetrable—and we attempt to "untie" it. To find a solution is to unravel the contradictions, loosen the tension of the conflict, and allow the answer to flow naturally from the evidence. The cognitive process of problem-solving is, in essence, a mental chemistry experiment where we break down a monolithic obstacle into manageable pieces until the path forward becomes clear.
In modern psychology, this is often referred to as 'insight' or the 'Aha!' moment. This moment is the psychological equivalent of a chemical solution reaching equilibrium. The tension of the unknown vanishes, and the disparate pieces of information suddenly merge into a single, cohesive understanding. Whether we are working in a laboratory with beakers of saline or sitting at a desk staring at a crossword puzzle, the human drive for a solution is fundamentally about the transition from chaos to order, from the solid wall of a problem to the fluid ease of an answer.