settle

1 to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) <the light rain will settle the dust in the air> <careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle> Synonyms lay, sediment Related Words filter, screen, sieve, sift, strain; clarify, clear; resettle Near Antonyms agitate, disturb, mix, stir Antonyms raise

2 to supply with inhabitants <the region was originally settled by farmers> Synonyms colonize, people, populate Related Words inhabit; move (to), relocate (to) Antonyms depopulate, unpeople

3 to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant> Synonyms adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, referee, rule (on), judge, umpireRelated Words consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh; size up; mediate, moderate, negotiate; prosecute, try; find (for or against); conclude, resolve; redetermine, rejudgeNear Antonyms equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt

4 to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements> Synonyms agree (on), decide, fix, set, arrangeRelated Words contract, pledge, promise; blueprint, calculate, chart, concert, design, draft, frame, hammer out, intrigue, lay out, maneuver, map (out), plan, program (also programme), schematize, scheme, shape, square away, work out; choose, conclude, determine, figure, opt, resolve; affirm, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, OK (or okay), sanction, warrant; close, complete, end, finalize, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up; bargain, chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, negotiateNear Antonyms abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke; differ (over), disagree (with); counter, debate, object, oppose, protest, resist; contest, dispute

5 to come to rest after descending from the air <birds settling on the branches of the maple tree> Synonyms land, light, perch, roost, alight, touch downRelated Words belly-land, crash-landNear Antonyms arise, ascend, climb, rise; float, fly, glide, plane, soar, wing; hang, hoverAntonyms blast off, take off

6 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <settled the sleeping baby into her crib> Synonyms install, lodge, nestle, perch, roost, ensconceRelated Words deploy, emplace, fix, locate, park, plant, position, set, situate, station; anchor, bivouac, camp, camp (out); burrow, curl up, dig in; harbor, house

7 to free from distress or disturbance <a hot meal settled the children down> Synonyms becalm, compose, lull, lullaby, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], salve, calm, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)Related Words appease, conciliate, hush, mollify, pacify, placate; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lay, mitigate, quell, relax, relieve, solace; narcotize, sedate, stupefyNear Antonyms aggravate, heighten, intensify; arouse, excite, foment, incite, rouse, stir (up), work upAntonyms agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex

8 to gain emotional or mental control of <settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst> Synonyms calm, compose, contain, control, re-collect, collectRelated Words hold back, restrain; rally, recover; lull, quiet, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)