What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lyse
Example
The red blood cells were lysed by the addition of water. [lysed: past tense]
Example
The virus was lysed by the immune system's response. [lysed: verb]
dissolve
Example
The sugar dissolved completely in the hot tea. [dissolved: past tense]
Example
The salt will dissolve in the water if you stir it long enough. [dissolve: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dissolve is more commonly used than lyse in everyday language. Dissolve is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lyse is less common and is typically used in scientific or medical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lyse and dissolve?
Both lyse and dissolve are formal words that are typically used in scientific or technical contexts.
