SETTLEMENT

n. 1 the act or an instance of settling; the process of being settled. 2 a the colonization of a region. b a place or area occupied by settlers. c a small village. 3 a a political or financial etc. agreement. b an arrangement ending a dispute. 4 a the terms on which property is given to a person. b a deed stating these. c the amount of property given. d = marriage settlement. 5 the process of settling an account. 6 subsidence of a wall, house, soil, etc.