Word: dissolution (noun)

Associations

"Dissolution" means the process of ending or breaking apart something, often something formal or organized. It is commonly used for groups, agreements, or substances.

• "The dissolution of the company was announced yesterday." Here, it means the company is ending or closing.
• "The dissolution of the partnership took a long time." This means the business relationship ended.
• "The dissolution of sugar in water is a physical change." Here, it means sugar breaking down and mixing evenly in water.

A well-known synonym is "disintegration," but "disintegration" often implies breaking into pieces physically or falling apart in a more chaotic way, while "dissolution" is often more formal and can be used for abstract things like agreements or organizations.

Substitution

You can sometimes use:

• "ending" (less formal, more general)
• "termination" (formal, often legal)
• "breakup" (informal, more about relationships or groups)

For example, "termination of the contract" instead of "dissolution of the contract" sounds more legal and final.

Deconstruction

• Root: "dissolve" means to break apart or mix into a liquid.
• Suffix: "-tion" turns the verb "dissolve" into a noun, meaning the action or process of dissolving.
• Prefix: "dis-" means apart or away.

Historically, "dissolution" comes from Latin "dissolutio," meaning loosening or breaking apart.

Inquiry

• Can you think of an organization or group that might go through dissolution? Why would it happen?
• How is dissolution different when talking about a physical substance versus a business or legal agreement?
• Have you ever experienced the dissolution of a friendship or team? How did it feel?