{
    "term": "solve",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "solve",
            "heSheIt": "solves"
        },
        "pastSimple": "solved",
        "pastParticiple": "solved",
        "ingForm": "solving"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to find a way of dealing with a problem or difficult situation",
            "sensetop": "solve something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Attempts are being made to **solve the problem** of waste disposal."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **solve an issue/a crisis**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "You can't solve anything by just running away."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I hope that he can find a good way to solve these problems."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Being with peers and friends does not necessarily solve this feeling of loneliness."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The problem cannot be solved with spending cuts alone."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We hope the difficulty can be solved by getting the two sides together to discuss the issues."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to focus on solving the country's problem."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a plan designed to solve the housing problem"
                },
                {
                    "text": "research aimed at solving the growing problem of child obesity"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Board met several times last week to try to solve the firm's financial crisis."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Unemployment will not be solved by offering low-paid jobs in call centres."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["completely", "largely", "half"],
                "verb + solve": ["attempt to", "try to", "help (to)"],
                "preposition": ["by", "with"],
                "phrases": [
                    "an attempt to solve something",
                    "be aimed at solving something",
                    "be good at solving something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to find the correct answer or explanation for something",
            "sensetop": "solve something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **solve an equation/a puzzle**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **solve a crime/mystery**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to solve a riddle/conundrum"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The police have appealed for help in solving the case."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We were given clues to help us solve the puzzle."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This question has never been satisfactorily solved."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The mystery has not yet been completely solved."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Crime and punishment", "Maths and measurement"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["completely", "largely", "half"],
                "verb + solve": ["attempt to", "try to", "help (to)"],
                "preposition": ["by", "with"],
                "phrases": [
                    "an attempt to solve something",
                    "be aimed at solving something",
                    "be good at solving something"
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɒlv/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solve__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɒlvz/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solves__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɒlvd/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solved__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɒlvɪŋ/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solving__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɑːlv/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solve__us_1_rr.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɑːlvz/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solves__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɑːlvd/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solved__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɑːlvɪŋ/",
                "audio": "so/solve/solving__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English (in the sense ‘loosen, dissolve, untie’): from Latin solvere ‘loosen, unfasten’."
}