v. To put in a specified position; place: set a book on a table. v. To put into a specified state: set the prisoner at liberty. v. To put into a stable position: set the fence post into a bed of concrete. v. To fix firmly or in an immobile manner: He set his jaw and concentrated on flying the plane through the storm. v. To restore to a proper and normal state when dislocated or broken: set a broken arm. v. To adjust for proper functioning.v. To adjust (a saw) by deflecting the teeth.v. Nautical To spread open to the wind: set the sails. v. To adjust according to a standard.v. To adjust (an instrument or device) to a specific point or calibration: set an alarm clock. v. To arrange properly for use: set a place for a dinner guest; set a table. v. To apply equipment, such as curlers and clips, to (hair) in order to style.v. Printing To arrange (type) into words and sentences preparatory to printing; compose.v. Printing To transpose into type.v. Music To compose (music) to fit a given text.v. Music To write (words) to fit a given melodic line.v. To arrange scenery on (a theater stage).v. To prescribe the unfolding of (a drama or narrative, for instance) in a specific place: a play that is set in Venice. v. To prescribe or establish: set a precedent. v. To prescribe as a time for: set June 6 as the day of the invasion. v. To detail or assign (someone) to a particular duty, service, or station: set the child to cleaning the closets; set guards around the perimeter. v. To incite to hostile action: a war that set families against one another. v. To establish as the highest level of performance: set a world aviation record. v. To establish as a model: A parent must set a good example for the children. v. To put in a mounting; mount: set an emerald in a pendant. v. To apply jewels to; stud: a tiara that was set with diamonds. v. To cause to sit.v. To put (a hen) on eggs for the purpose of hatching them.v. To put (eggs) beneath a hen or in an incubator.v. Sports To position (oneself) in such a way as to be ready to start running a race.v. Sports To pass (a volleyball), usually with the fingertips, in an arc close to the net so that a teammate can drive it over the net.v. To value or regard something at the rate of: She sets a great deal by good nutrition. v. To fix at a given amount: The judge set bail for the defendant at $50,000. v. To make as an estimate of worth: We set a high value on human life. v. To point to the location of (game) by holding a fixed attitude. Used of a hunting dog.v. Botany To produce, as after pollination: set seed. v. To prepare (a trap) for catching prey.v. To fix (a hook) firmly into a fish's jaw.verb-intransitive. To disappear below the horizon: The sun set at seven that evening. verb-intransitive. To diminish or decline; wane.verb-intransitive. To sit on eggs. Used of fowl.verb-intransitive. To become fixed; harden. See Synonyms at coagulate.verb-intransitive. To become permanent. Used of dye.verb-intransitive. To become whole; knit. Used of a broken bone.verb-intransitive. Botany To mature or develop, as after pollination.verb-intransitive. Nonstandard To sit: "If Emmett drives, I could set up front” ( Bobbie Ann Mason). verb-intransitive. To position oneself preparatory to an action, such as running a race.adj. Fixed or established by agreement: a set time for the launching. adj. Established by convention: followed set procedures for filing a grievance. adj. Established deliberately; intentional: Our set purpose is to win the conflict. adj. Fixed and rigid: "His bearded face already has a set, hollow look” ( Conor Cruise O'Brien). adj. Unwilling or very reluctant to change: He is set in his ways. adj. Intent and determined: "He is dead set against rushing abroad to build a plant” ( Fortune). adj. Ready: We are set to leave early tomorrow morning. n. The act or process of setting.n. The condition resulting from setting.n. The manner in which something is positioned: the set of her cap. n. A permanent firming or hardening of a substance, as by cooling.n. The deflection of the teeth of a saw.n. The carriage or bearing of a part of the body.n. A particular psychological state, usually that of anticipation or preparedness: "The mental set of an audience is crucial to his performance” ( Psychology Today). n. A descent below the horizon.n. The direction or course of wind or water.n. A seedling, slip, or cutting that is ready for planting.n. The act of arranging hair by waving and curling it.n. Sports The act of setting a volleyball for a teammate.phrasal-verb. set about To begin or start: set about solving the problem. phrasal-verb. set apart To reserve for a specific use.phrasal-verb. set apart To make noticeable: character traits that set her apart. phrasal-verb. set aside To separate and reserve for a special purpose.phrasal-verb. set aside To discard or reject.phrasal-verb. set aside To declare invalid; annul or overrule: The court has set aside the conviction. phrasal-verb. set at To attack or assail: The dogs set at the fox. phrasal-verb. set back To slow down the progress of; hinder.phrasal-verb. set back Informal To cost: That coat set me back $1,000. phrasal-verb. set by To reserve for future use: It is wise to set food and money by in case of a future emergency. phrasal-verb. set down To cause to sit; seat: Set the baby down here. phrasal-verb. set down To put in writing; record: We set down the facts. phrasal-verb. set down To regard; consider: Just set him down as a sneak. phrasal-verb. set down To assign to a cause; attribute: Let's set the error down to inexperience. phrasal-verb. set down To land (an aircraft): The pilot set the plane down hard. phrasal-verb. set down Baseball To put out (a batter); retire. Used of a pitcher.phrasal-verb. set forth To present for consideration; propose: set forth a sound plan. phrasal-verb. set forth To express in words: She has set forth her ideas. phrasal-verb. set forward To begin a journey.phrasal-verb. set in To insert: set in the sleeve of a gown. phrasal-verb. set in To begin to happen or be apparent: "Evening was setting in as I took the road over Mountain Top” ( Charles Siebert). phrasal-verb. set in To move toward the shore. Used of wind or water.phrasal-verb. set off To give rise to; cause to occur: set off a chemical reaction. phrasal-verb. set off To cause to explode: set off a bomb. phrasal-verb. set off To make suddenly or demonstrably angry: The clerk's indifference finally set me off. phrasal-verb. set off To indicate as being different; distinguish: features setting him off from the crowd. phrasal-verb. set off To direct attention to by contrast; accentuate: set off a passage with italics. phrasal-verb. set off To counterbalance, counteract, or compensate for: Our dismay at her leaving was set off by our knowing that she was happy. phrasal-verb. set off To start on a journey: set off for Europe. phrasal-verb. set out To begin an earnest attempt; undertake: He set out to understand why the plan had failed. phrasal-verb. set out To lay out systematically or graphically: set out a terrace. phrasal-verb. set out To display for exhibition or sale.phrasal-verb. set out To plant: set out seedlings. phrasal-verb. set out To start a journey: She set out at dawn for town. phrasal-verb. set to To begin working energetically; start in.phrasal-verb. set to To begin fighting.phrasal-verb. set up To place in an upright position.phrasal-verb. set up To elevate; raise.phrasal-verb. set up To raise in authority or power; invest with power: They set the general up as a dictator. phrasal-verb. set up To put (oneself) forward as; claim to be: He has set himself up as an authority on the English language. phrasal-verb. set up To assemble and erect: set up a new machine. phrasal-verb. set up To establish; found: set up a charity. phrasal-verb. set up To cause: They set up howls of protest over new taxes. phrasal-verb. set up To establish in business by providing capital, equipment, or other backing.phrasal-verb. set up To treat (someone) to drinks.phrasal-verb. set up To pay for (drinks).phrasal-verb. set up Informal To stimulate or exhilarate: a victory that really set the team up. phrasal-verb. set up To lay plans for: set up a kidnapping. phrasal-verb. set up Informal To put (someone else) into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery: Swindlers have set me up. phrasal-verb. set up Sports To make a pass to (a teammate), creating a scoring opportunity.phrasal-verb. set upon To attack violently: Guards set dogs upon the escaping prisoners. idiom. set fire to To cause to ignite and burn.idiom. set foot in To enter.idiom. set foot on To step on.idiom. set in motion To give impetus to: The indictment set the judicial process in motion. idiom. set (one's) heart on To be determined to do something.idiom. set (one's) sights on To have as a goal: She set her sights on medical school. idiom. set on fire To cause to ignite and burn.idiom. set on fire To cause to become excited: The music set the audience on fire. idiom. set sail Nautical To begin a voyage on water.idiom. set (someone) straight To correct (someone) by providing full and accurate information.idiom. set store by To regard as valuable or worthwhile.idiom. set the pace To go at a speed that other competitors attempt to match or surpass.idiom. set the pace To behave or perform in a way that others try to emulate.idiom. set the stage for To provide the underlying basis for: saber rattling that set the stage for war. idiom. set up housekeeping To establish a household.idiom. set up shop To establish one's business operations.n. A group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used: a chess set. n. A group of persons sharing a common interest: the high-school set. n. A group of books or periodicals published as a unit.n. A number of couples required for participation in a square dance.n. The movements constituting a square dance.n. The scenery constructed for a theatrical performance.n. The entire enclosure in which a movie is filmed; the sound stage.n. Music A session of music, typically dance music, played before an intermission.n. Music The music so played.n. The collective receiving apparatus assembled to operate a radio or television.n. Mathematics A collection of distinct elements having specific common properties: a set of positive integers. n. Sports A group of games constituting one division or unit of a match, as in tennis.n. Sports An offensive formation in football or basketball.
