set

[[t]sɛt[/t]]

v. set, set•ting, n. adj.

1) to put (something or someone) in a particular place, position, or posture:

to set a vase on a table; Set the baby on her feet[/ex]

2) to put or cause to pass into some condition:

to set a house on fire; to set a prisoner free[/ex]

3) to put or apply:

to set fire to a house[/ex]

4) to fix definitely; establish or decide upon:

to set a time limit; to set a wedding date[/ex]

5) to put (a price or value) upon something

6) to fix the value of at a certain amount, rate, or point:

She sets honesty above everything else[/ex]

7) to post, station, or appoint for some duty or task:

to set guards at the door[/ex]

8) to place or plant firmly:

to set a flagpole in concrete[/ex]

9) to direct or settle resolutely or wishfully:

to set one's mind to a task; to set one's heart on a new bike[/ex]

10) to establish for others to follow:

to set a fast pace; to set a good example[/ex]

11) to prescribe or assign, as a task

12) to distribute or arrange china, silver, etc., for use on (a table)

13) clo to style (the hair) by using rollers, clips, lotions, or other aids to induce curls, waves, fullness, etc

14) to put in the proper or desired order or condition for use:

to set a trap[/ex]

15) to adjust (a mechanism) so as to control its performance

16) to adjust the hands of (a clock or watch) to the desired position or according to a certain standard

17) to adjust (a timer, alarm, etc.) so as to sound when desired

18) to fix at a given point or calibration:

to set the dial on an oven[/ex]

19) jew to fix or mount (a gem or the like) in a frame or setting

20) jew to ornament or stud with gems or the like

21) to cause to sit; seat:

to set a child in a highchair[/ex]

22) to put (a hen) on eggs to hatch them

23) ahb. to place (eggs) under a hen or in an incubator for hatching

24) to cause to take a particular direction:

to set one's course to the south[/ex]

25) to put into a fixed, rigid, or settled state, as the face or muscles

26) srg to put (a broken or dislocated bone) back in position

27) chem. to cause (glue, mortar, or the like) to become fixed or hard

28) to affix or apply, as by stamping:

The king set his seal to the decree[/ex]

29) to tighten (often fol. by up):

to set nuts well up[/ex]

30) (of a hunting dog) to indicate the position of (game) by standing stiffly and pointing with the muzzle

31) to urge, goad, or encourage to attack:

to set the hounds on a trespasser[/ex]

32) coo to put aside (dough with yeast in it) to permit rising

33) mad

a) to fit, as words to music

b) to arrange for musical performance

c) to arrange (music) for certain voices or instruments

34) sbz

a) to arrange the scenery, properties, lights, etc., on (a stage) for an act or scene

b) to give decisive form to (an action, scene, etc.) in preparation for performance

35) naut. navig. to spread and secure (a sail) so as to catch the wind

36)

a) pri to arrange (type) in the order required for printing

b) pri to arrange (a text) in type for printing

37) gam Bridge. to cause (the opponents or their contract) to fall short

38) bui to sink (a nail head) with a nail set

39) bui to bend the teeth of (a saw) outward in opposite directions

40) astron. to pass below the horizon; sink:

The sun sets early in winter[/ex]

41) to decline; wane

42) to assume a fixed or rigid state, as the countenance or the muscles

43) chem. (of mortar, glue, dye, or the like) to become firm, solid, or permanent

44) to sit on eggs to hatch them, as a hen

45) clo (of the hair) to assume a particular style as the result of having been temporarily rolled up, pinned, twisted, etc

46) bot (of a flower's ovary) to develop into a fruit

47) spo (of a hunting dog) to indicate the position of game

48) mer to have a certain direction or course, as a wind or current

49) naut. navig. (of a sail) to be spread so as to catch the wind

50) cvb sts Nonstandard. to sit:

Come in and set a spell[/ex]

51) phv set about

to begin; undertake; start

52) phv set aside

a) to put to one side; reserve

b) to dismiss from the mind; reject

c) to prevail over; discard; annul:

to set aside a verdict[/ex]

53) phv set back

a) to hinder; impede

b) to fix at an earlier time or lower point on a scale:

Set back your clocks one hour[/ex]

c) inf to cause to pay; cost:

The house set them back $200,000[/ex]

54) cvb phv set by, to save or keep for future use

55) phv set down

a) to record or copy in writing or printing

b) to land an airplane

56) phv set forth

a) to give an account of; state; describe

b) to begin a journey; start

57) phv set in

a) to begin to prevail; arrive:

Darkness set in[/ex]

b) (of winds or currents) to blow or flow toward the shore

58) phv set off

a) to cause to become ignited or to explode

b) to begin; start

c) to intensify or improve by contrast

d) to begin a journey or trip; depart

59) phv set on

a) Also, set upon. to attack or cause to attack

b) to instigate; incite

60) phv set out

a) to begin a journey or course

b) to undertake; attempt

c) to define; describe

d) to plant

61) phv set to

a) to begin work vigorously

b) to start to fight

62) phv set up

a) to put upright; raise

b) to put into a high or powerful position

c) to construct; assemble; erect

d) to inaugurate; establish

e) to enable to begin in business; provide with means

f) inf to make a gift of; treat, as to drinks

g) to bring about; cause

h) to lead or lure into a prearranged situation, esp. so as to embarrass or entrap

63) the act or state of setting or the state of being set

64) a collection of articles designed for use together or in a complementary way:

a chess set; a set of carving knives[/ex]

65) a number, group, or combination of things of similar nature, design, or function:

a set of ideas[/ex]

66) a number, company, or group of persons associated by common interests, occupations, conventions, or status:

the smart set[/ex]

67) fixed direction, bent, or inclination:

The set of his mind was obvious[/ex]

68) bearing or carriage:

the set of one's shoulders[/ex]

69) the assumption of a fixed, rigid, or hard state, as by mortar or glue

70) clo the fit, as of an article of clothing

71) cvb clo the styling of the hair with rollers, pins, lotions, etc., or the hairstyle so formed

72) an apparatus for receiving radio or television programs; receiver

73) sbz a construction representing the site of the action in a play, film, or the like

74) bot a young plant, or a slip, tuber, or the like, suitable for planting

75) spo Tennis. a unit of a match, consisting of a group of not fewer than six games with a margin of at least two games between the winner and loser:

She won the match in straight sets of 6–3, 6–4, 6–4[/ex]

76) Mach.

a) mac the bending out of the points of alternate teeth of a saw in opposite directions

b) mac a permanent deformation or displacement of an object or part

c) mac a tool for giving a certain form to something, as a saw tooth

77) psl anb Psychol. a temporary state of readiness to act or respond to certain stimuli in a specific way

78) mad

a) the number of couples required to execute a quadrille or the like

b) a series of movements or figures that make up a quadrille or the like

79) mad mus

a) a succession of pieces played by an ensemble, as a dance band or jazz group, before or after an intermission

b) the period during which these pieces are played

80) Naut.

a) naut. navig. the direction of a wind, current, etc

b) naut. navig. the form or arrangement of the sails, spars, etc., of a vessel

81) math. Math. a collection of objects or elements classed together

82) fixed or prescribed beforehand:

a set time[/ex]

83) specified; fixed:

The hall holds a set number of people[/ex]

84) deliberately composed; customary:

set phrases[/ex]

85) fixed; rigid:

a set smile[/ex]

86) resolved or determined; habitually or stubbornly fixed:

to be set in one's opinions[/ex]

87) completely prepared; ready:

Is everyone set?[/ex]

•

Etymology: bef. 900; (v.) ME setten, OE settan, c. OFrissetta, OSsettian, OHG sezzen, ON setja, Go satjan, all < Gmc *satjan, causative of *setjan to sit; (n.) ME set, set(t) e, der. of the v. and its ptp.; (in senses denoting a group) ME sette < OF < L secta sect (later influenced by the v. and MLG gesette set, suite) usage: The verbs set and sit are similar in form and meaning but different in grammatical use. set is chiefly transitive and takes an object: Set the dish on the shelf. Its past tense and past participle are also set: The judge has set the date for the trial. set also has some standard intransitive uses, as “to pass below the horizon” and “to become firm, solid, etc.” The intransitive use of set for sit, “to be seated,” is nonstandard: Pull up a chair and set by me. sit is chiefly intransitive and does not take an object: Let's sit here in the shade. Its past tense and past participle are sat: Have they sat down yet? Transitive uses of sit include “to cause to sit” (Sit yourself on the sofa) and “to provide seating for” (The waiter sat us near the window).