resolution

English

Etymology

Recorded since 1412, as Middle English resolucioun (“dissolution”), either from Anglo-Norman resolucion or directly from Latin resolūtiō (“a loosening, solution”), from resolvō (“I loosen”), itself from the intensive prefix re- + solvō (“I loosen”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɹɛzəˈluːʃ(ə)n/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌɹɛzəˈl(j)uʃ(ə)n/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːʃən
• Hyphenation: re‧so‧lu‧tion

Noun

resolution (countable and uncountable, plural resolutions)

1. A firm decision or an official decision.
2. A strong will, determination.
3. The state of being resolute.

   His stalwart resolution is perhaps admirable, perhaps foolish.

4. A statement of intent, a vow

   By February, most New Year's resolutions are forgotten.   My resolution is to cut back on the fast food this year.

5. The act of discerning detail.
   • 2013 July-August, Fenella Saunders, “Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture”, in American Scientist:

     The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.

6. (computing, photography) The degree of fineness with which an image can be recorded or produced, often expressed as the number of pixels per unit of length (typically an inch).

   Printing at higher resolution will cause a reduction in performance.

7. (computing) The number of pixels in an image being stored or displayed.

   This monitor's maximum resolution is 1600 × 1200.

8. (computing) The process of determining the meaning of a symbol or address; lookup.

   name resolution

9. (mathematics) The act or process of solving; solution.

   the resolution of an equation

10. (homological algebra, of a given module (or, generally, object in an abelian category) ${\displaystyle M}$) An exact sequence of modules (or, objects in the same category as ${\displaystyle M}$) either terminating in ${\displaystyle M}$ or such that ${\displaystyle M}$ is the homology at degree zero. See Resolution (algebra).
11. A formal statement adopted by an assembly, or during any other formal meeting.

    The resolution was passed by a two-thirds majority.

12. (sciences) The separation of the constituent parts (of a spectrum etc).
13. (sciences) The degree of fineness of such a separation.
14. (music) Progression from dissonance to consonance; a chord to which such progression is made.
15. (literature) The moment in which the conflict ends and the outcome of the action is clear.
16. (medicine) In a pathological process, the phase during which pathogens and damaged tissues are removed by macrophages.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:obstinacy

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• polygon resolution
• texture resolution

References

• resolution on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Danish

Noun

resolution c (singular definite resolutionen, plural indefinite resolutioner)

1. resolution

Declension

Further reading

• “resolution” in Den Danske Ordbog

Middle English

Noun

resolution

1. Alternative form of resolucioun