sol
vent
Plural
solvents
1
a liquid that is capable of dissolving another substance
- Ethanol is commonly used as a solvent to dissolve oils and perfume essences for the production of aftershaves and colognes.
- Chloroform acts as an effective solvent for lipids, fats and waxes due to its non-polar nature.
- Water is the universal solvent, capable of dissolving more substances like salt and sugar than any other liquid.
2
an agent or method that is able to break apart or eliminate an obstacle, difficulty, or problem
- Thorough research into root causes served as a solvent to understand and eliminate recurring product defects.
- Open communication finally provided the solvent necessary to resolve interpersonal tensions affecting team performance.
- Creativity served as the solvent that dissolved parameters of the brief, enabling innovative solutions.
Synonyms: