soluble

/ˈsɑljəbəl/

/ˈsɒljubəl/

Other forms: solubly

Sugar is soluble. It dissolves easily in water. You can also use the word to describe a problem that can be solved easily.

How are the two definitions of soluble related? When you dissolve something in a liquid, the combination is known as a solvent or a solution. All of these "sol-" words descend from the Latin word that means loosen or unfasten. When you dissolve something in water, you loosen the molecules. And if you think of a problem like a knot, to solve it is to loosen it up.

Definitions of soluble

1. adjective

   (of a substance) capable of being dissolved in some solvent (usually water)
   synonyms:

   alcohol-soluble

   soluble in alcohol

   dissoluble, dissolvable

   capable of dissolving

   fat-soluble

   soluble in fats

   disintegrable, meltable

   capable of melting

   oil-soluble

   soluble in oil

   water-soluble

   soluble in water

   antonyms:

   insoluble

   (of a substance) incapable of being dissolved

   non-water-soluble, water-insoluble

   not soluble in water
2. adjective

   susceptible of solution or of being solved or explained
   “the puzzle is soluble”

   synonyms:

   explicable

   capable of being explicated or accounted for

   answerable

   capable of being answered

   resolvable, solvable

   capable of being solved

   antonyms:

   insoluble

   admitting of no solution or explanation

   incomprehensible, inexplicable

   incapable of being explained or accounted for

   insolvable, unresolvable, unsoluble, unsolvable

   not easily solved