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rang. 7 usually derog (of part of the body, manner, state of mind etc) fixed in position; unmoving: She greeted her guests with a set smile. (=a probably insincere smile) | She's a woman of set opinions and won't change her mind now. | He's about 80 now, and very set in his ways. (=has very fixed habits) 8 [F+to-v] likely: The temperature is set to (=will probably) drop very low tonight. | This issue seems set to cause serious embarrassment to the government.
set³ n 1 [C[of]] a group of connected things; group forming a whole: a set of gardening tools | a set of fingerprints | a set of stairs | a 21-piece tea set (=cups, plates, teapot etc) | a chess set (=all the pieces for playing the game) | We are now facing a whole new set of problems. | a peculiar set of circumstances 2 [C] an apparatus for receiving and showing television signals (or for receiving radio signals): a colour television set | Is your set (=television) working? → see also CRYSTAL SET 3 [C] a) the scenery, furniture etc, placed on a stage to represent the scene of (part of) the action of a play: a set designer b) a place where a film is acted: Everyone must be on the set ready to begin filming at eight o'clock. 4 [C] a part of a tennis match which is won by winning at least six games, and beating one's opponent by at least two games or winning a TIEBREAKER: Becker won the second set 6-4. → see also TENNIS (USAGE) 5 [C] a part of a concert or group of musical acts, especially of popular music or JAZZ: The group played a very impressive set. 6 [S] an act or result of setting one's hair (SET): I'd like a shampoo and set, please. 7 [(the)S+sing./pl. v] a group of people of a particular social type: He goes around with a rather wild set. → see also JET SET 8 [S] the hardening of a liquid, soft solid etc: You'll get a better set if you use gelatine. 9 [(the)S[of]] the position in which one holds part of one's body: From the set of her shoulders it was clear that she was tired. 10 [C] tech (in MATHEMATICS) a collection of numbers, points etc: The set {x,y} has two members. → see also NULL SET 11 [C] a small brown round root planted in order to grow onions: onion sets 12 [(the)U[of]] poet the going down of especially the sun towards and below the horizon → see also SUNSET
set-back /'setbæk/ n something that delays or prevents successful progress: a major setback to our hopes of reaching an agreement → see also SET BACK
,set 'book n (in Britain) a book chosen by an examining board to be studied by schoolchildren or students for a literature examination
,set 'piece n an especially effective scene in a play, work of art etc, carefully planned using a well-known formal pattern or style: The trial scene at the end of the play is an impressive set piece.
set-square /'setskweə/ BrE || triangle AmE — n a flat three-sided usually plastic plate having one right angle and used for drawing or testing angles
sett /set/ n a passage in the ground made by a BADGER as a place to live
set-tee /se'ti:/ especially BrE also sofa, couch || usually sofa, couch AmE — n a long seat with a back and usually arms for seating more than one person
set-ter /'setə/ n 1 a long-haired dog often trained to point out the positions of animals or birds for shooting → see also SET 2 (often in comb.) a person or thing that sets: a setter of traps/of fashions → see also TRENDSETTER, TYPESETTER
'set ,theory n [U] the branch of MATHEMATICS that deals with SETS
set-ting /'setɪŋ/ n 1 [the S+of] the action of a person or thing that sets: the setting of the sun 2 [C] the way or position in which something, especially an instrument, is set: This machine has two settings, fast and slow. 3 [C usually sing.] a) a background; set of surroundings: What a beautiful setting the hotel is in, with these high mountains all around. b) the time and place where the action of a book, film etc, is shown as happening: Our story has its setting in ancient Rome. 4 [C] a piece of metal holding a stone in a piece of jewellery: a diamond in a gold setting → see also PLACE SETTING
set·tle¹ /'setl/ v 1 [I+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] to place (someone or oneself) so as to be comfortable: He settled back in his chair and closed his eyes. | She settled the child on the sofa. 2 [I(on, over, upon);T] to come or bring to rest, especially from above, from flight etc: A bird settled on the branch. | Dust had settled on the tables and chairs. | Stand the bottle upright for a few days to settle the sediment. | (fig.) An eerie stillness had settled on/over the town. 3 [I(DOWN, to);T] to make or become quiet, calm, still etc: We won't know what's really happened until the noise and excitement have settled down. | This medicine should settle your nerves/your stomach. | Settle down, children; stop running about. | Something was worrying me, and I couldn't settle (down) to my work. → see also SETTLE DOWN 4 [T] to decide on; fix; make the last arrangements about: That's settled; we'll go tomorrow. | 'The car won't start.' 'Well, that settles it (=that has decided the matter); we can't go out tonight.' | [+ (that)/wh-] We've settled that we'll go to Wales, but we still haven't settled when we're going. → see also SETTLE ON 5 [I(with);T] to end (an argument, especially in law); bring (a matter) to an agreement: They settled their quarrel/differences in a friendly way. | The two companies settled (their dispute) out of court. (=came to an agreement about it between themselves rather than letting a court of law decide about it) 6 [T often pass.] (of people) to go and live in (a place): The American West was hardly settled until the 19th century. | the settled coastal areas of Australia 7 [I+adv/prep] to start to live in a place: They got married and settled near Manchester. 8 [I] to sink slowly to a lower level; SUBSIDE: The crack in the wall is caused by the building/the ground settling. 9 [T] to pay (a bill or money claimed): The insurance company settled the claim quickly. | Please settle your account within seven days. 10 settle one's affairs to put all one's business matters into order, especially for the last time because one thinks one may be going to die → see also when the dust has settled (DUST)
settle down phr v 1 [I;T(= settle sbdy, down)] to (cause to) sit comfortably: She settled (herself) down in a chair with a book and a cup of tea. 2 [I] to establish a home and live a quiet life: I hate all this travel; I want to get married and settle down. 3 [I] to become used to a way of life, job etc: He soon settled down in his new school. 4 [I(to)] to start giving one's serious or whole attention to a job, activity etc: I must settle down and do my homework. → see also SETTLE
settle for sthg. phr v [T no pass.] to accept or agree to (something less than the best, or less than one hoped for): I want £900 for my car and I won't settle for less. | She had to settle for an unskilled job because there was no work for people with her qualifications.
settle (sbdy.) in phr v [I;T] to (help to) move comfortably into or get used to a new home, job etc: She quickly settled in at her new job.
settle into sthg. phr v [T] to get used to (new surroundings, a new job etc): It didn't take me long to settle into a new routine.
settle on/upon phr v [T] 1 [(settle on sthg./sbdy.)] to decide or agree on; choose: She wanted blue and I wanted yellow, so we settled on green. 2 [(settle sthg. on sbdy.)] BrE; fml to give (money, property etc) to (a person) formally in law: She settled a small yearly sum on each of her children.
settle up phr v [I(with)] 1 to pay what is owed on an account or bill: As soon as we'd finished our meal we settled up and left. | I can't take your money, sir; please settle up with the lady at the cash desk. 2 (of two or more people) to pay and receive what is owed: You bought the tickets and I paid for the meal. Shall we settle up now?
settle² n a long wooden seat with a high solid back, and a bottom part which is a chest with a lid one can sit on. The settle is a typically 17th-century piece of furniture.
set·tled /'setld/ adj unlikely to change; fixed: settled weather/habits → opposite UNSETTLED
set·tle·ment /'setlmənt/ n 1 [C;U(of)] an agreement or decision ending an argument, question etc: The whole country is hoping for the settlement of this strike. | The management have reached a settlement with the union over the pay dispute. | a pay settlement | a divorce settlement 2 [C] a usually recently built small village in an area with few people; a newly settled place: a small settlement on the edge of the desert 3 [Uof] the movement of a new population into a place to live there: the settlement of the American West 4 [C;U] a payment of money claimed: We are sending you a cheque for £400 in settlement of your claim. 5 [C(on, upon)] a formal gift or giving of money or property: He made