sol·vent (s?l?v?nt, sôl?-)adj.1. Capable of meeting financial obligations.2. Chemistry Capable of dissolving another substance.n.1. Chemistry a. A substance in which another substance is dissolved, forming a solution.b. A substance, usually a liquid, capable of dissolving another substance.2. Something that solves or explains.[French, from Latin solv?ns, solvent-, present participle of solvere, to loosen; see solve.]sol?ven·cy n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.solvent (?s?lv?nt) adj1. (Banking & Finance) capable of meeting financial obligations2. (Chemistry) (of a substance, esp a liquid) capable of dissolving another substancen3. (Chemistry) a liquid capable of dissolving another substance: water is a solvent for salt. 4. (Chemistry) the component of a solution that does not change its state in forming the solution or the component that is present in excess. Compare solute5. something that solves[C17: from Latin solv?ns releasing, from solvere to free, solve] ?solvently advCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014sol?vent (?s?l v?nt) adj. 1. able to pay all just debts. 2. having the power of dissolving; causing solution. n. 3. a substance that dissolves another to form a solution: Water is a solvent for sugar. 4. something that solves or explains. [1620?30;