solution

/səˈluːʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈluːʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈlü-shən/ (ame, mw)

solution — noun

  • solutionsingular
  • solutionsplural

1. A thing that fixes a problem or answers a difficult question, so that the diffic

1.名詞A2
釋義

A thing that fixes a problem or answers a difficult question, so that the difficulty goes away or gets smaller.

例句

Nikhil worked on the maths problem for an hour before he found the solution.

solution + found/discovered + problem

The city council is looking for a long-term solution to the traffic problem.

solution + to + noun phrase (problem)

同義詞
  • answer

    More general; can be as short as a single word or number, while 'solution' often refers to a method or plan.

  • remedy

    More common for health or legal contexts; suggests correcting something that is wrong.

  • fix

    Informal; emphasises a practical, often quick repair rather than a full resolution.

反義詞

文法句型

solution + to + noun phrase

solution + for + noun phrase

find/come up with + solution

用法筆記

Often used with the preposition 'to' or 'for' to indicate what problem is being solved. 'Solution to' is more common than 'solution for' in standard English, though both are acceptable.

常見錯誤

❌I need a solution of this problem.
✅I need a solution to this problem.
💡Use 'to' not 'of' after 'solution' when referring to the problem.
❌We found solution.
✅We found a solution.
💡'Solution' in this sense is a countable noun and needs a determiner.

2. A liquid combined evenly with another substance, forming a uniform mix where the

2.名詞B2
釋義

A liquid combined evenly with another substance, forming a uniform mix where the added substance can no longer be seen on its own.

例句

Sayaka prepared a sugar solution by stirring sugar into warm water until it dissolved completely.

solution made by dissolving substance in liquid

The lab technician asked Walid to store the saline solution in a clean glass bottle.

saline solution — common term for salt water mixture

同義詞
  • mixture

    Broader term; a mixture does not have to be homogeneous or involve dissolving.

  • blend

    Less scientific; used for combining things that keep some of their original properties.

文法句型

solution + of + substance + in + liquid

in solution

用法筆記

In chemistry, 'a solution' always refers to a homogeneous mixture. The substance that dissolves is called the 'solute' and the liquid it dissolves into is called the 'solvent'. This sense is uncountable when referring to the state of being dissolved (e.g. 'in solution').

常見錯誤

❌I made a sugar solution by mixing sugar in water without stirring.
✅I made a sugar solution by stirring sugar into warm water until it dissolved.
💡A solution requires the substance to be fully dissolved, not just mixed.

3. The physical change that takes place when a solid, gas, or another liquid breaks

3.名詞B2
釋義

The physical change that takes place when a solid, gas, or another liquid breaks apart and spreads evenly inside a liquid.

例句

The solution of the powdered medicine in water takes about two minutes at room temperature.

solution + of + substance — the process of dissolving

Lucas observed that heating the liquid speeds up the solution of the solid particles.

speed up + solution — accelerates dissolving process

同義詞
  • dissolving

    More common and less formal; works in both everyday and scientific contexts.

  • dissolution

    Even more formal than 'solution'; often used in legal or institutional contexts too.

文法句型

solution + of + substance

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used in technical or scientific writing. In everyday English, speakers prefer the verb 'dissolve' or the phrase 'dissolving process' instead of the noun 'solution' for this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The solution of sugar in water makes sweet water.' (when meaning the process)
✅The dissolving of sugar in water produces a sweet liquid.
💡The process sense of 'solution' is formal and rare in everyday speech; use 'dissolving' instead.