Quizzes & Games
Word of the Day
Video
New Words
My Favorites
View your list of saved words.
(You can log in using Facebook.)

set

¹set

verb \ˈset\

setset·ting

Definition of SET

transitive verb

: to cause to sit : place in or on a seat

a : to put (a fowl) on eggs to hatch them

b : to put (eggs) for hatching under a fowl or into an incubator

: to place (oneself) in position to start running in a race

a : to place with care or deliberate purpose and with relative stability <set a ladder against the wall> <set a stone on the grave>

b : transplant 1 <set seedlings>

c (1) : to make (as a trap) ready to catch prey (2) : to fix (a hook) firmly into the jaw of a fish

d : to put aside (as dough containing yeast) for fermenting

: to direct with fixed attention <set your mind to it>

a : to cause to assume a specified condition, relation, or occupation <slaves were set free> <set the house on fire>

b : to cause the start of <set a fire>

a : to appoint or assign to an office or duty

b : post, station

: to cause to assume a specified posture or position <set the door ajar>

a : to fix as a distinguishing imprint, sign, or appearance <the years have set their mark on him>

b : affix

c : apply <set a match to kindling>

: to fix or decide on as a time, limit, or regulation : prescribe <set a wedding day> <set the rules for the game>

a : to establish as the highest level or best performance <set a record for the half mile>

b : to furnish as a pattern or model <set an example of generosity>

c : to allot as a task <setting lessons for the children to work upon at home — Manchester Examiner>

a : to adjust (a device and especially a measuring device) to a desired position <set the alarm for 7:00> <set a thermostat at 68>; also : to adjust (as a clock) in conformity with a standard

b : to restore to normal position or connection when dislocated or fractured <set a broken bone>

c : to spread to the wind <set the sails>

a : to put in order for use <set a place for a guest>

b : to make scenically ready for a performance <set the stage>

c (1) : to arrange (type) for printing <set type by hand> (2) : to put into type or its equivalent (as on film) <set the first word in italic>

a : to put a fine edge on by grinding or honing <set a razor>

b : to bend slightly the tooth points of (a saw) alternately in opposite directions

c : to sink (the head of a nail) below the surface

: to fix in a desired position (as by heating or stretching)

: to arrange (hair) in a desired style by using implements (as curlers, rollers, or clips) and gels or lotions

a : to adorn with something affixed or infixed : stud, dot <clear sky set with stars>

b : to fix (as a precious stone) in a border of metal : place in a setting

c : to place in a specified literary or dramatic setting <a story set in Paris>

a : to hold something in regard or esteem at the rate of <sets a great deal by daily exercise>

b : to place in a relative rank or category <set duty before pleasure>

c : to fix at a certain amount <set bail at $500>

d : value, rate <their promises were set at naught>

e : to place as an estimate of worth <set a high value on life>

: to place in relation for comparison or balance <theory set against practice>

a : to direct to action

b : to incite to attack or antagonism <war sets brother against brother>

a : to place by transporting <was set ashore on the island>

b : to put in motion

c : to put and fix in a direction <set our faces toward home once more>

d of a dog : to point out the position of (game) by holding a fixed attitude

: to defeat (an opponent or a contract) in bridge

a : to fix firmly : make immobile : give rigid form or condition to <set her jaw in determination>

b : to make unyielding or obstinate

: to cause to become firm or solid <set milk for cheese>

: to cause (as fruit or seed) to develop

intransitive verb

chiefly dialect : sit

: to be becoming : be suitable : fit <the coat sets well>

: to cover and warm eggs to hatch them

a : to affect one with or as if with weight <the pudding sets heavily on my stomach>

b : to place oneself in position in preparation for an action (as running)

of a plant part : to undergo development usually as a result of pollination

a : to pass below the horizon : go down <the sun sets>

b : to come to an end <this century sets with little mirth — Thomas Fuller>

: to apply oneself to some activity <set to work>

: to have a specified direction in motion : flow, tend <the wind was setting from Pine Hill to the farm — Esther Forbes>

of a dog : to indicate the position of game by crouching or pointing

: to dance face to face with another in a square dance <set to your partner and turn>

a : to become solid or thickened by chemical or physical alteration <the cement sets rapidly>

b of a dye or color : to become permanent

c of a bone : to become whole by growing together

— set about

: to begin to do

— set apart

: to reserve to a particular use

: to make noticeable or outstanding

— set aside

: to put to one side : discard

: to reserve for a purpose : save

: dismiss

: annul, overrule

— set at

: to mount an attack on : assail <would go although…devils should set at me — Charlotte Yonge>

— set eyes on

: to catch sight of

— set foot in

: enter

— set foot on

: to step onto

— set forth

: to give an account or statement of

: to start out on a journey

— set forward

: further

: to start out on a journey

— set in motion

: to give impulse to <sets the story in motion vividly — Howard Thompson>

— set one's hand to

: to become engaged in

— set one's heart on

: resolve vt vt 5 <she set her heart on going to medical school>

— set one's house in order

: to organize one's affairs

— set one's sights on

: to determine to pursue

— set one's teeth on edge

: irritate, annoy

— set one straight

: to correct someone by providing accurate information

— set sail

: to start out on a course; especially : to begin a voyage <set sail for Bermuda>

— set store by or set store on

: to consider valuable, trustworthy, or worthwhile

— set the stage

: to provide the basis or background <this trend will set the stage for higher earnings>

— set to music

: to provide music or instrumental accompaniment for (a text)

— set upon

: to attack usually with violence <the dogs set upon the trespassers>

See set defined for English-language learners »

See set defined for kids »

Examples of SET

We need to set some extra chairs around the table.
He set the ladder against the wall and walked away.
I remember setting my bag right here.
They set the bricks along the walkway.
The jeweler can set the stone several different ways.
He turned off the car and set the parking brake.
Rangers will set a trap to catch the bear.
We set an extra place at the table for our guest.

Origin of SET

Middle English setten, from Old English settan; akin to Old High German sezzen to set, Old English sittan to sit

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SET

Synonyms: brood, hatch, incubate, sit

Antonyms: loose, loosen, unfasten, unfix, unloose, unloosen

²set

noun

Definition of SET

a : the act or action of setting

b : the condition of being set

: a number of things of the same kind that belong or are used together <an electric train set>

a : mental inclination, tendency, or habit : bent <a set toward mathematics>

b : a state of psychological preparedness to perceive or respond to an anticipated stimulus or situation

: direction of flow <the set of the wind>

: form or carriage of the body or of its parts <her face took on a cynical set — Raymond Kennedy>

: the manner of fitting or of being placed or suspended <in order to give the skirt a pretty set — Mary J. Howell>

: amount of deflection from a straight line <set of a saw's teeth>

: permanent change of form (as of metal) due to repeated or excessive stress

: the act or result of arranging hair by curling or waving

also sett \ˈset\

a : a young plant or rooted cutting ready for transplanting

b : a small bulb, corm, or tuber or a piece of tuber used for propagation <onion sets>

c : the blossoms of a plant that have set fruit as a result of fertilization

or sett : the burrow of a badger

: the width of the body of a piece of type

: an artificial setting for a scene of a theatrical or film production

also sett : a rectangular paving stone of sandstone or granite

: a division of a tennis match won by the side that wins at least six games beating the opponent by two games or by winning a tiebreaker

: a collection of books or periodicals forming a unit

: a clutch of eggs

: the basic formation in a country-dance or square dance

: a session of music (as jazz or dance music) usually followed by an intermission; also : the music played at one session

: a group of persons associated by common interests

: a collection of elements and especially mathematical ones (as numbers or points) —called also class

: an apparatus of electronic components assembled so as to function as a unit <a television set>

: a usually offensive formation in football or basketball

: a group of a specific number of repetitions of a particular exercise

See set defined for English-language learners »

Examples of SET

I need to buy a new set of golf clubs.
The kids are allowed to watch two hours of television. After that, I turn off the set.
We met on the set of Hamlet.

First Known Use of SET

14th century

Related to SET

Synonyms: bloc, block, body, coalition, party, sect, faction, side, wing

³set

adjective

Definition of SET

: intent, determined <set upon going>

: intentional, premeditated <did it of set purpose>

: fixed by authority or appointment : prescribed, specified <set hours of study>

: reluctant to change <set in their ways>

a : immovable, rigid <set frown>

b : built-in <a set tub>

: settled, persistent <set defiance>

: being in readiness : prepared <set for an early morning start>

See set defined for English-language learners »

Examples of SET

Her college is set in the countryside.
Their house is set back from the road.
a man with deep-set eyes
She has very set ideas about how children should behave.

Origin of SET

Middle English sett, from Old English gesett, past participle of settan

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SET

Synonyms: fit, go, prepared, ready

Antonyms: flat-footed, half-baked, half-cocked, underprepared, unprepared, unready

set

noun (Concise Encyclopedia)

In mathematics and logic, any collection of objects (elements), which may be mathematical (e.g., numbers, functions) or not. The intuitive idea of a set is probably even older than that of number. Members of a herd of animals, for example, could be matched with stones in a sack without members of either set actually being counted. The notion extends into the infinite. For example, the set of integers from 1 to 100 is finite, whereas the set of all integers is infinite. A set is commonly represented as a list of all its members enclosed in braces. A set with no members is called an empty, or null, set, and is denoted . Because an infinite set cannot be listed, it is usually represented by a formula that generates its elements when applied to the elements of the set of counting numbers. Thus, {2x