n. & v.
--n.
1. a side-shoot from a plant serving for propagation.
2 an offshoot or scion.
3 a compensation; a consideration or amount diminishing or neutralizing the effect of a contrary one.
4 Archit. a sloping ledge in a wall etc. where the thickness of the part above is diminished.
5 a mountain-spur.
6 a bend in a pipe etc. to carry it past an obstacle.
7 (often attrib.) a method of printing in which ink is transferred from a plate or stone to a uniform rubber surface and from there to paper etc. (offset litho).
8 Surveying a short distance measured perpendicularly from the main line of measurement.
--v.tr. (-setting; past and past part. -set)
1. counterbalance, compensate.
2 place out of line.
3 print by the offset process.