set¹ (sĕt)

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[Middle English setten, from Old English settan.]

verb: set, set·ting, sets. 

transitive verb 

1. To put in a specified position; place: set a book on a table.
2. To put into a specified state: set the prisoner at liberty.
3. 1. To put into a stable position: set the fence post into a bed of concrete.
   2. To fix firmly or in an immobile manner: He set his jaw and concentrated on flying the plane through the storm.
4. To restore to a proper and normal state when dislocated or broken: set a broken arm.
5. 1. To adjust for proper functioning.
   2. To adjust (a saw) by deflecting the teeth.
   3. Nautical To spread open to the wind: set the sails.
6. To adjust according to a standard.
7. To adjust (an instrument or device) to a specific point or calibration: set an alarm clock.
8. To arrange properly for use: set a place for a dinner guest; set a table.
9. To apply equipment, such as curlers and clips, to (hair) in order to style.
10. Printing
    1. To arrange (type) into words and sentences preparatory to printing; compose.
    2. To transpose into type.
11. Music
    1. To compose (music) to fit a given text.
    2. To write (words) to fit a given melodic line.
12. To arrange scenery on (a theater stage).
13. To prescribe the unfolding of (a drama or narrative, for instance) in a specific place: a play that is set in Venice.
14. To prescribe or establish: set a precedent.
15. To prescribe as a time for: set June 6 as the day of the invasion.
16. To detail or assign (someone) to a particular duty, service, or station: set the child to cleaning the closets; set guards around the perimeter.
17. To incite to hostile action: a war that set families against one another.
18. 1. To establish as the highest level of performance: set a world aviation record.
    2. To establish as a model: A parent must set a good example for the children.
19. 1. To put in a mounting; mount: set an emerald in a pendant.
    2. To apply jewels to; stud: a tiara that was set with diamonds.
20. To cause to sit.
21. 1. To put (a hen) on eggs for the purpose of hatching them.
    2. To put (eggs) beneath a hen or in an incubator.
22. Sports To position (oneself) in such a way as to be ready to start running a race.
23. 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.
24. 1. To value or regard something at the rate of: She sets a great deal by good nutrition.
    2. To fix at a given amount: The judge set bail for the defendant at $50,000.
    3. To make as an estimate of worth: We set a high value on human life.
25. To point to the location of (game) by holding a fixed attitude. Used of a hunting dog.
26. Botany To produce, as after pollination: set seed.
27. 1. To prepare (a trap) for catching prey.
    2. To fix (a hook) firmly into a fish's jaw.

intransitive verb 

1. To disappear below the horizon: The sun set at seven that evening.
2. To diminish or decline; wane.
3. To sit on eggs. Used of fowl.
4. 1. To become fixed; harden. See synonyms at coagulate
   2. To become permanent. Used of dye.
5. To become whole; knit. Used of a broken bone.
6. Botany To mature or develop, as after pollination.
7. Nonstandard To sit: “If Emmett drives, I could set up front” (Bobbie Ann Mason)
8. To position oneself preparatory to an action, such as running a race.

adjective 

1. Fixed or established by agreement: a set time for the launching.
2. Established by convention: followed set procedures for filing a grievance.
3. Established deliberately; intentional: Our set purpose is to win the conflict.
4. Fixed and rigid: “His bearded face already has a set, hollow look” (Conor Cruise O'Brien)
5. Unwilling or very reluctant to change: He is set in his ways.
6. 1. Intent and determined: “He is dead set against rushing abroad to build a plant” (Fortune)
   2. Ready: We are set to leave early tomorrow morning.

noun 

1. 1. The act or process of setting.
   2. The condition resulting from setting.
2. The manner in which something is positioned: the set of her cap.
3. A permanent firming or hardening of a substance, as by cooling.
4. The deflection of the teeth of a saw.
5. 1. The carriage or bearing of a part of the body.
   2. A particular psychological state, usually that of anticipation or preparedness: “The mental set of an audience is crucial to his performance” (Psychology Today)
6. A descent below the horizon.
7. The direction or course of wind or water.
8. A seedling, slip, or cutting that is ready for planting.
9. The act of arranging hair by waving and curling it.
10. Sports The act of setting a volleyball for a teammate.

phrasal verbs

set about

To begin or start: set about solving the problem.

set apart

To reserve for a specific use.

To make noticeable: character traits that set her apart.

set aside

To separate and reserve for a special purpose.

To discard or reject.

To declare invalid; annul or overrule: The court has set aside the conviction.

set at

To attack or assail: The dogs set at the fox.

set back

To slow down the progress of; hinder.

Informal To cost: That coat set me back $1,000.

set by

To reserve for future use: It is wise to set food and money by in case of a future emergency.

set down

To cause to sit; seat: Set the baby down here.

To put in writing; record: We set down the facts.

To regard; consider: Just set him down as a sneak. To assign to a cause; attribute: Let's set the error down to inexperience.

To land (an aircraft): The pilot set the plane down hard.

Baseball To put out (a batter); retire. Used of a pitcher.

set forth

To present for consideration; propose: set forth a sound plan.

To express in words: She has set forth her ideas.

set forward

To begin a journey.

set in

To insert: set in the sleeve of a gown.

To begin to happen or be apparent: “Evening was setting in as I took the road over Mountain Top” (Charles Siebert)

To move toward the shore. Used of wind or water.

set off

To give rise to; cause to occur: set off a chemical reaction. To cause to explode: set off a bomb. To make suddenly or demonstrably angry: The clerk's indifference finally set me off.

To indicate as being different; distinguish: features setting him off from the crowd.

To direct attention to by contrast; accentuate: set off a passage with italics.

To counterbalance, counteract, or compensate for: Our dismay at her leaving was set off by our knowing that she was happy.

To start on a journey: set off for Europe.

set out

To begin an earnest attempt; undertake: He set out to understand why the plan had failed.

To lay out systematically or graphically: set out a terrace.

To display for exhibition or sale.

To plant: set out seedlings.

To start a journey: She set out at dawn for town.

set to

To begin working energetically; start in.

To begin fighting.

set up

To place in an upright position.

To elevate; raise. To raise in authority or power; invest with power: They set the general up as a dictator. To put (oneself) forward as; claim to be: He has set himself up as an authority on the English language. To assemble and erect: set up a new machine.

To establish; found: set up a charity.

To cause: They set up howls of protest over new taxes.

To establish in business by providing capital, equipment, or other backing.

Informal To treat (someone) to drinks. To pay for (drinks).

Informal To stimulate or exhilarate: a victory that really set the team up.

To lay plans for: set up a kidnapping.

Informal To put (someone else) into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery: Swindlers have set me up.

Sports To make a pass to (a teammate), creating a scoring opportunity.

set upon

To attack violently: Guards set dogs upon the escaping prisoners.

idioms

set fire to

To cause to ignite and burn.

set foot in

To enter.

set foot on

To step on.

set in motion

To give impetus to: The indictment set the judicial process in motion.

set (one's) heart on

To be determined to do something.

set (one's) sights on

To have as a goal: She set her sights on medical school.

set on fire

To cause to ignite and burn. To cause to become excited: The music set the audience on fire.

set sail

To begin a voyage on water.

set (someone) straight

To correct (someone) by providing full and accurate information.

set store by

To regard as valuable or worthwhile.

set the pace

To go at a speed that other competitors attempt to match or surpass. To behave or perform in a way that others try to emulate.

set the stage for

To provide the underlying basis for: saber rattling that set the stage for war.

set up housekeeping

To establish a household.

set up shop

To establish one's business operations.

usage note

Usage Note: Originally set meant “to cause (something) to sit,” so that it is now in most cases a transitive verb: She sets the book on the table. He sets the table. Sit is generally an intransitive verb: He sits at the table. There are some exceptions: The sun sets sitsA hen setssitson her eggs.