SOLVE

Meaning

(chiefly law enforcement) A solution; an explanation.

• verbTo find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.

SOLVE as a word-puzzle answer

SOLVE is a 5-letter word with 2 vowels (O, E) and 3 consonants (S, L, V). Every letter is distinct, so it rarely punishes a clean opening guess.

It leans on high-frequency letters (S, O, E), so a strong vowel-and-common-consonant opener tends to light up quickly. Watch for the less-common letter V — saving a guess to test it once the vowels are placed is usually the fastest route.