Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Resolution

Resolution (-l?"sh?n) , noun

[French résolution. Latin resolutio a loosening, solution. See Resolve.]

1.
The act, operation, or process of resolving.
(a)
The act of separating a compound into its elements or component parts.
(b)
The act of analyzing a complex notion, or solving a vexed question or difficult problem.
The unraveling and resolution of the difficulties that are met with in the execution of the design are the end of an action. — Dryden
2.
The state of being relaxed; relaxation. [Obsolete]
3.
The state of being resolved, settled, or determined; firmness; steadiness; constancy; determination.
Be it with resolution then to fight. — Shakespeare
4.
That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose; determination. Specifically: A formal expression of the opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly, adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the resolutions of a public meeting.
5.
The state of being resolved or firm in opinion or thought; conviction; assurance. [Obsolete]
Little resolution and certainty there is as touching the islands of Mauritania. — Holland
6.
(Mathematics) The act or process of solving; solution; as, the resolution of an equation or problem.
7.
(Medicine) A breaking up, disappearance; or termination, as of a fever, a tumor, or the like.
8.
(Music) The passing of a dissonant into a consonant chord by the rising or falling of the note which makes the discord.
9.
(Technical) The act of distinguishing between two close but not identical objects, or, when taking a measurement, bbetween two close values of the property measured.
10.
(Technical) a measure of the ability to distinguish between two close but not identical values of the property being measured; it is expressed as the difference in values of a property necessary to make such a distinction; as, a microscope with a resolution of one micron; a thermometer with a resolution of one-tenth of a degree. Also called resolving power.
Collocations (3)
Joint resolution , See under Joint, a.
Resolution of a force or Resolution of a motion (Mechanics) , the separation of a single force or motion into two or more which have different directions, and, taken together, are an equivalent for the single one; -- the opposite of composition of a force.
Resolution of a nebula (Astronomy) , the exhibition of it to the eye by a telescope of such power as to show it to be composed of small stars.