/ set; NAmE / verb , noun , adjective
■ verb
( set·ting , set , set )
PUT / START
1.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to put sth/sb in a particular place or position :
She set a tray down on the table.
They ate everything that was set in front of them.
The house is set (= located) in fifty acres of parkland.
2.
to cause sb/sth to be in a particular state; to start sth happening :
[ vn + adv. / prep. ]
Her manner immediately set everyone at their ease .
He pulled the lever and set the machine in motion .
[ vn - adj ]
The hijackers set the hostages free .
[ vn -ing ]
Her remarks set me thinking.
PLAY / BOOK / MOVIE
3.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to place the action of a play, novel or film / movie in a particular place, time, etc. :
The novel is set in London in the 1960s.
CLOCK / MACHINE
4.
[ vn ] to prepare or arrange sth so that it is ready for use or in position :
She set the camera on automatic.
I set my watch by (= make it show the same time as) the TV.
Set the alarm for 7 o'clock.
TABLE
5.
[ vn ] set a / the table to arrange knives, forks, etc. on a table for a meal :
Could you set the table for dinner?
The table was set for six guests.
JEWELLERY
6.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] set A in B | set B with A to put a precious stone into a piece of jewellery :
She had the sapphire set in a gold ring.
Her bracelet was set with emeralds.
ARRANGE
7.
[ vn ] to arrange or fix sth; to decide on sth :
They haven't set a date for their wedding yet.
The government has set strict limits on public spending this year.
EXAMPLE / STANDARD, etc.
8.
[ vn ] to fix sth so that others copy it or try to achieve it :
This could set a new fashion .
They set high standards of customer service.
I am unwilling to set a precedent .
She set a new world record for the high jump.
I rely on you to set a good example .
WORK / TASK
9.
set sth (for sb) | set sb (to do sth) to give sb a piece of work, a task, etc. :
[ vn ]
Who will be setting (= writing the questions for) the French exam?
What books have been set (= are to be studied) for the English course?
[ vnn , vn ]
She's set herself a difficult task.
She's set a difficult task for herself.
[ vn to inf ]
I've set myself to finish the job by the end of the month.
—see also set book
BECOME FIRM
10.
to become firm or hard :
[ v ]
Leave the concrete to set for a few hours.
[ v - adj ]
The glue had set hard.
FACE
11.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to fix your face into a firm expression :
Her jaw was set in a determined manner.
HAIR
12.
[ vn ] to arrange sb's hair while it is wet so that it dries in a particular style :
She had her hair washed and set.
BONE
13.
[ vn ] to put a broken bone into a fixed position and hold it there, so that it will heal; to heal in this way :
The surgeon set her broken arm.
[also v ]
FOR PRINTING
14.
[ vn ] ( technical ) to use a machine or computer to arrange writing and images on pages in order to prepare a book, newspaper, etc. for printing
—see also typesetter
WORDS TO MUSIC
15.
[ vn ] set sth (to sth) to write music to go with words :
Schubert set many poems to music.
OF SUN / MOON
16.
[ v ] to go down below the horizon :
We sat and watched the sun setting.
—see also sunset
OPP rise
•
IDIOMS
Idioms containing set are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example set the pace is at pace n.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- set about sb
- set about sth
- set sb against sb
- set sth (off) against sth
- set sb/sth apart (from sb/sth)
- set sth apart (for sth)
- set sth aside
- set sth/sb back
- set sb back sth
- set sth back (from sth)
- set sb down
- set sth down
- set forth
- set sth forth
- set in
- set sth in / into sth
- set off
- set sth off
- set sb off (doing sth)
- set on / upon sb
- set sb/sth on sb
- set out
- set sth out
- set to
- set sb up
- set sth up
- set (yourself) up (as sb)
■ noun
GROUP
1.
[ C ] set (of sth) a group of similar things that belong together in some way :
a set of six chairs
a complete set of her novels
a set of false teeth
a new set of rules to learn
You can borrow my keys—I have a spare set.
—see also tea set
2.
[ C ] a group of objects used together, for example for playing a game :
a chess set
3.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] (sometimes disapproving ) a group of people who have similar interests and spend a lot of time together socially :
the smart set (= rich, fashionable people)
Dublin's literary set
—see also the jet set
TV / RADIO
4.
[ C ] a piece of equipment for receiving television or radio signals
FOR PLAY / MOVIE
5.
[ C ] the scenery used for a play, film / movie, etc. :
We need volunteers to help build and paint the set.
6.
[ C , U ] a place where a play is performed or part of a film / movie is filmed :
The cast must all be on (the) set by 7 in the morning.
IN SPORT
7.
[ C ] one section of a match in games such as tennis or volleyball :
She won in straight sets (= without losing a set) .
MATHEMATICS
8.
[ C ] a group of things that have a shared quality :
set theory
POP MUSIC
9.
[ C ] a series of songs or pieces of music that a musician or group performs at a concert
CLASS
10.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a group of school students with a similar ability in a particular subject :
She's in the top set for French.
OF FACE / BODY
11.
[ sing. ] set of sth the way in which sb's face or body is fixed in a particular expression, especially one showing determination :
She admired the firm set of his jaw.
HAIR
12.
[ sing. ] an act of arranging hair in a particular style while it is wet :
A shampoo and set costs £15.
BECOMING FIRM
13.
[ sing. ] the state of becoming firm or solid
ANIMAL'S HOME
14.
[ C ] = sett
PLANT
15.
[ C ] a young plant, shoot etc. for planting :
onion sets
■ adjective
IN POSITION
1.
in a particular position :
a house set in 40 acres of parkland
He had close-set eyes.
PLANNED
2.
[ usually before noun ] planned or fixed :
Each person was given set jobs to do.
The school funds a set number of free places.
Mornings in our house always follow a set pattern.
—see also set book
OPINIONS / IDEAS
3.
not likely to change :
set ideas / opinions / views on how to teach
As people get older, they get set in their ways .
MEAL
4.
[ only before noun ] ( of a meal in a restaurant ) having a fixed price and a limited choice of dishes :
a set dinner / lunch / meal
Shall we have the set menu ?
LIKELY / READY
5.
set for sth | set to do sth likely to do sth; ready for sth or to do sth :
Interest rates look set to rise again.
The team looks set for victory.
Be set to leave by 10 o'clock
FACE
6.
[ usually before noun ] ( of a person's expression ) fixed; not natural :
a set smile
His face took on a set expression.
•
IDIOMS
- be (dead) set against sth / against doing sth
- be set on sth / on doing sth
—more at mark noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb Old English settan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zetten , German setzen , also to sit .
noun late Middle English : partly from Old French sette , from Latin secta sect, partly from the verb set .
adjective late Old English , past participle of the verb set .