Solution Meaning
/səˈl(j)uːʃən/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA homogeneous mixture, which may be liquid, gas or solid, formed by dissolving one or more substances.
nounAn act, plan or other means, used or proposed, to solve a problem.
Sentence Examples
If there's no solution, then there's no problem.
I prefer to look for a solution to problems, not only to report them.
Attempts to find a solution have failed.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The complex math problem had a simple ____ that took only a few steps to solve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The math teacher asked the students to find the correct ____ to the complex algebraic equation.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English solucioun, from Old French solucion (French solution), from Latin solūtiōnem, accusative singular of solūtiō, from the verb solvō. Compare solve, -tion.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"All too often, computer technology is treated as a solution in search of a problem. In fact, it is not uncommon for people working with computers to become critical of the problem because it doesn't seem to fit the solution they have generated."
— 1971, O. Phillip Hicks, “The Computer: Is It the Solution or the Problem?”, in ACM: Proceedings of 1971 Annual Conference, page 362:
"The fourth model is called the enlightment model: Actors are seen to be responsible for problems but unable or unwilling to provide solutions. They are believed to need discipline provided by authoritative guidance. The Alcoholic Anonymous^([sic]) groups are considered prototypical for this model."
— 2013 June 29, Leo Montada, “Coping with Life Stress”, in Herman Steensma, Riël Vermunt, editors, Social Justice in Human Relations Volume 2: Societal and Psychological Consequences of Justice and Injustice, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 26:
"How many beautiful creations, how many glorious dreams went with him to the tomb! but the unfulfilled destiny of genius is a mystery whose solution is not of earth."
— 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Parting”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 322:
"Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery."
— 1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Hocussing of Cigarette”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:
"States and empires fail when they are no longer the solution, they are the problem."
— 2022 February 7, Charles Hugh Smith, How Empires Die:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The complex math problem had a simple ____ that took only a few steps to solve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The math teacher asked the students to find the correct ____ to the complex algebraic equation.