set1
• verb (setting; past and past part. set) 1 put, lay, or stand in a specified place or position. 2 put, bring, or place into a specified state. 3 cause or instruct (someone) to do something. 4 give someone (a task). 5 decide on or fix (a time, value, or limit). 6 establish as (an example or record). 7 adjust (a device) as required. 8 prepare (a table) for a meal by placing cutlery, crockery, etc., on it. 9 harden into a solid, semi-solid, or fixed state. arrange (damp hair) into the required style. put (a broken or dislocated bone or limb) into the correct position for healing. (of the sun, moon, etc.) appear to move towards and below the earth’s horizon as the earth rotates. Printing arrange (type or text) as required. (set something to) provide (music) so that a written work can be produced in a musical form. (of a tide or current) take or have a specified direction or course. (of blossom or a tree) form into or produce (fruit). — PHRASES set about 1 start doing something with vigour or determination. 2 Brit. informal attack. set apart give (someone) an air of unusual superiority. set aside 1 save or keep for a particular purpose. 2 annul (a legal decision or process). set back informal cost (someone) a particular amount of money. set down record in writing or as an authoritative rule or principle. set forth 1 begin a journey or trip. 2 state or describe in writing or speech. set in (of something unwelcome) begin and seem likely to continue. set off 1 begin a journey. 2 cause (a bomb or alarm) to go off. 3 serve as decorative embellishment to. set on (or upon) attack or urge to attack violently. set out 1 begin a journey. 2 aim or intend to do something. 3 arrange or display in a particular order or position. set out one’s stall display one’s abilities or attributes. set sail 1 hoist the sails of a boat. 2 begin a voyage. set one’s teeth become resolute. set to begin doing something vigorously. set up 1 place or erect in position. 2 establish (a business, institution, etc.). 3 establish (someone) in a particular capacity or role. 4 begin making (a loud sound). 5 informal make (an innocent person) appear guilty. set the wheels in motion begin a process or put a plan into action. — ORIGIN Old English, related to SIT.
Perform another search of the Compact Oxford English Dictionary
About this dictionary
The Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English contains 145,000 words, phrases, and definitions.
Find out more about Oxford's range of English dictionaries
Sign up for the AskOxford Word of the Day
Search the Little Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
Search the Concise Dictionary of First Names
|
