to dissolve / resolve
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to dissolve
To distribute a solid substance in a liquid so that it mixes completely into it and is no longer visible as a separate substance.
Du musst das Pulver in warmem Wasser auflösen.
You have to dissolve the powder in warm water.
to dissolve
To officially end or terminate a group, organization, assembly, or contract.
Der Mietvertrag wurde zum Monatsende aufgelöst.
The rental contract was dissolved at the end of the month.
to break up
Refers to a group of people that disperses and no longer remains together as a unit.
Nach der Kundgebung löste sich die Demonstration friedlich auf.
After the rally, the demonstration broke up peacefully.
to resolve
To clarify a riddle, problem, or unclear situation and find a solution.
Der Detektiv konnte den komplizierten Fall schließlich auflösen.
The detective was finally able to resolve the complicated case.
to clear out a household
To remove all household belongings from an apartment or house, usually because of a move into a care home or after a death.
Nach dem Tod ihrer Großmutter mussten die Erben den Haushalt auflösen.
After their grandmother's death, the heirs had to clear out the household.
to dissolve
To lose one's own form or structure and gradually fall apart or disappear.
Der Nebel am Morgen wird sich bald auflösen.
The morning fog will soon dissolve.
to resolve
(Technical, photography/optics) To make details in an image or through an optical device clearly and separately recognizable.
Das neue Teleskop kann sehr weit entfernte Sterne hoch auflösen.
The new telescope can resolve very distant stars at high resolution.
'Auflösen' (to dissolve/resolve) is a separable verb. The prefix 'auf' goes at the end of the main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Der Zucker löst sich im Tee schnell auf.
The sugar dissolves quickly in the tea.
The verb consists of the prefix 'auf-' and the stem 'lösen' (to loosen/solve). 'Lösen' means to make something loose or to find a solution. The prefix 'auf-' here strengthens the idea of complete separation or clarification.
Können Sie diesen Knoten für mich auflösen?
Can you untie this knot for me?
The reflexive form 'sich auflösen' is used when a group of people disperses or when something loses its form and disappears, for example fog or clouds.
Nach dem Konzert löste sich die Menschenmenge langsam auf.
After the concert, the crowd slowly broke up.
When a solid substance is dissolved in a liquid, the structure is: subject dissolves something (accusative) in something (dative).
Ich löse eine Tablette in einem Glas Wasser auf.
I dissolve a tablet in a glass of water.
In the context of organizations and contracts, 'auflösen' (to dissolve/terminate) is often combined with 'einen Verein' (an association), 'eine Firma' (a company), 'ein Konto' (an account), or 'einen Vertrag' (a contract).
Wegen finanzieller Probleme musste der Verein sich auflösen.
Because of financial problems, the association had to dissolve.
When it is about clarifying an unclear situation, 'auflösen' (to resolve) is typically used with nouns such as 'ein Rätsel' (a riddle), 'ein Geheimnis' (a secret), 'einen Widerspruch' (a contradiction), or 'einen Fall' (a case).
Das Rätsel, wer der Täter war, ließ sich nicht auflösen.
The riddle of who the culprit was could not be resolved.
The phrase 'einen Haushalt auflösen' has a very specific meaning. It describes clearing out an apartment, usually after a death or when someone moves into a nursing home.
Nach dem Umzug seiner Mutter ins Pflegeheim musste er ihren Haushalt auflösen.
After his mother moved into the nursing home, he had to clear out her household.
In technical fields such as photography, film, or optics, 'auflösen' (to resolve) means how many details an image or a device can show. In this context, people speak of high or low resolution.
Mein neuer Monitor kann Bilder in 4K auflösen.
My new monitor can display images in 4K resolution.
to end
Beenden is the general choice when a contractual relationship is not to continue. Auflösen is especially appropriate when an organization or a contract is officially ended as an entity. Use “beenden” for a general announcement and “auflösen” for the formal institutional or legal process.
Beide Seiten lösten den Vertrag durch eine offizielle Vereinbarung auf.
Both sides dissolved the contract through an official agreement.
Beide Seiten beendeten den Vertrag zum Monatsende.
Both sides ended the contract at the end of the month.
