set up
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
set 1
(sĕt)v. set, set·ting, sets
v.tr.
1. To put in a specified position or arrangement; place: set a book on a table; set the photo next to the flowers.
2.
a. To put into a specified state: set the prisoner at liberty; set the house ablaze; set the machine in motion.
b. To cause to begin an action: The noise set the dog to barking.
c. To cause or assign (someone) to undertake an action or perform a service: The sergeant set the recruit to sweeping the barracks.
d. To incite to hostile feeling or action: a dispute that set the neighbors against each other.
3. To position (oneself) so as to be ready to do something, such as start running a race.
4. To put into a stable or fixed position, as:
a. To position or secure so as to be fixed or immobile: set the fence post in cement.
b. To put in a mounting; mount: set an emerald in a pendant.
c. To apply jewels to; stud: The tiara was set with diamonds.
d. To cause (a hook) to become fixed in a fish's mouth.
5. To cause to be in proper, useful, or working condition, as:
a. To arrange for the consumption of a meal: set the table; set a place at table.
b. To adjust (an instrument or device) to a specific point or calibration: set the alarm for 7:00.
c. To prepare (a trap) for catching prey.
d. To adjust (a saw) by deflecting the teeth.
e. Nautical To spread open to the wind: set the sails.
f. To arrange scenery on (a theater stage).
g. To restore to a proper and normal state when dislocated or broken: set a broken arm.
h. To apply equipment, such as curlers and clips, to (hair) in order to style.
6.
a. To concentrate or direct (one's mind or attention, for example) on a purpose or goal.
b. To direct or focus (one's desires or hopes, for example) on a certain thing.
7. 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.
8. Printing
a. To arrange (type) into words and sentences preparatory to printing; compose.
b. To transpose (text, for example) into type.
9. Music
a. To compose (music) to fit a given text.
b. To write (words) to fit a given melodic line.
10. To appoint, establish, or determine, as:
a. To declare or demonstrate (a precedent or standard, for instance).
b. To provide or establish as a model: A parent must set a good example for the children.
c. To establish as the highest level of performance: set a swimming record.
d. To arrange or establish (a computer password, for example) to allow future action.
e. To prescribe as a time for: set the meeting for Friday afternoon.
f. To prescribe the unfolding of (a drama or narrative, for instance) in a specific place: a play that is set in Venice.
11.
a. To value or regard something at the rate of: She sets a great deal by good nutrition.
b. To fix at a given amount: The judge set bail for the defendant at $50,000.
c. To make as an estimate of worth: We set a high value on human life.
12.
a. To cause to sit: Set yourself over by the fire.
b. To put (a hen) on eggs for the purpose of hatching them.
13. To point to the location of (game) by holding a fixed body position. Used of a hunting dog.
14. Botany To produce, as after pollination: set seed.
v.intr.
1. To disappear below the horizon: The sun set at seven that evening.
2. To diminish or decline; wane: when the glory of the empire set.
3. To sit on eggs. Used of fowl.
4.
a. To become fixed; harden: allowed the aspic to set.
b. To become permanent. Used of dye.
5. To become whole; knit. Used of a broken bone.
6. To point to the location of game by holding a fixed body position. Used of a hunting dog.
7. Botany To mature or develop, as after pollination.
8. Nonstandard To sit: "If Emmett drives, I could set up front" (Bobbie Ann Mason).
9. To position oneself preparatory to an action, such as running a race.
adj.
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.
a. Intent and determined: "He is dead set against rushing abroad to build a plant" (Fortune).
b. Ready; prepared: We are set to leave early tomorrow morning.
n.
Phrasal Verbs: 1.
a. The act or process of setting.
b. 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.
a. The carriage or bearing of a part of the body.
b. 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.
11. In Texas hold'em, a hand in which a player has two cards of the same rank and another card of that rank is among the community cards.
set about
To begin or start: set about solving the problem.
set apart
1. To reserve for a specific use.
2. To make noticeable: character traits that set her apart.
set aside
1. To separate and reserve for a special purpose.
2. To discard or reject.
3. 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
1. To slow down the progress of; hinder.
2. 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
1. To cause to sit; seat: Set the baby down here.
2. To put in writing; record: We set down the facts.
3.
a. To regard; consider: Just set him down as a sneak.
b. To assign to a cause; attribute: Let's set the error down to inexperience.
4. To land (an aircraft): The pilot set the plane down hard.
5. Baseball To put out (a batter); retire. Used of a pitcher.
set forth
1. To present for consideration; propose: set forth a sound plan.
2. To express in words: She has set forth her ideas.
set forward
To begin a journey.
set in
1. To insert: set in the sleeve of a gown.
2. To begin to happen or be apparent: "Evening was setting in as I took the road over Mountain Top" (Charles Siebert).
3. To move toward the shore. Used of wind or water.
set off
1.
a. To give rise to; cause to occur: set off a chemical reaction.
b. To cause to explode: set off a bomb.
c. To make suddenly or demonstrably angry: The clerk's indifference finally set me off.
2. To indicate as being different; distinguish: features setting him off from the crowd.
3. To direct attention to by contrast; accentuate: set off a passage with italics.
4. To counterbalance, counteract, or compensate for: Our dismay at her leaving was set off by our knowing that she was happy.
5. To start on a journey: set off for Europe.
set out
1. To begin an earnest attempt; undertake: He set out to understand why the plan had failed.
2. To lay out systematically or graphically: set out a terrace.
3. To display for exhibition or sale.
4. To plant: set out seedlings.
5. To start a journey: She set out at dawn for town.
set to
1. To begin working energetically; start in.
2. To begin fighting.
set up
1. To place in an upright position.
2.
a. To elevate; raise.
b. To raise in authority or power; invest with power: They set the general up as a dictator.
c. To put (oneself) forward as; claim to be: He has set himself up as an authority on the English language.
d. To assemble and erect: set up a new machine.
3. To establish; found: set up a charity.
4. To cause: They set up howls of protest over new taxes.
5. To establish in business by providing capital, equipment, or other backing.
6. Informal
a. To treat (someone) to drinks.
b. To pay for (drinks).
7. Informal To stimulate or exhilarate: a victory that really set the team up.
8. To lay plans for: set up a kidnapping.
9. Informal To put (someone else) into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery: Swindlers have set me up.
10. Sports To make a pass to (a teammate), creating a scoring opportunity.
set upon
Idioms: To attack violently: Guards set dogs upon the escaping prisoners.
set against
Strongly opposed to: We are dead set against the idea.
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 on
Resolved to do something or strongly wishing for something: She is set on getting a role in the play.
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
1. To cause to ignite and burn.
2. To cause to become excited: The music set the audience on fire.
set sail Nautical
To begin a voyage on water.
set (someone) straight
To inform (someone) of the truth of a situation.
set store by
To regard as valuable or worthwhile.
set the pace
1. To go at a speed that other competitors attempt to match or surpass.
2. To behave or perform in a way that others try to emulate.
set the scene/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: Originally set meant "to cause (someone) to sit" and "to cause (something) to be in a certain position," 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 (not sits). A hen sets (or sits) on her eggs.
set 2
(sĕt)n.
1. A group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used: a chess set.
2. A group of persons sharing a common interest: the high-school set.
3. A group of books or periodicals published as a unit.
4.
a. A number of couples required for participation in a square dance.
b. The movements constituting a square dance.
5.
a. The scenery constructed for a theatrical performance.
b. The entire enclosure in which a movie is filmed; the sound stage.
6. Music
a. A session of music, typically dance music, played before an intermission.
b. The music so played.
7. The collective receiving apparatus assembled to operate a radio or television.
8. Mathematics A collection of distinct elements having specific common properties: a set of positive integers.
9. Sports
a. A group of games constituting one division or unit of a match, as in tennis.
b. An offensive formation in football or basketball.
[Middle English sette, from Old French, from Medieval Latin secta, retinue, from Latin, faction; see sect.]
Set
(sĕt)n. Mythology
Variant of Seth2.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
set up
vb (adverb, mainly tr)
1. (also intr) to put into a position of power, etc
2. (also intr) to begin or enable (someone) to begin (a new venture), as by acquiring or providing means, equipment, etc
3. (Building) to build or construct: to set up a shed.
4. to raise, cause, or produce: to set up a wail.
5. to advance or propose: to set up a theory.
6. to restore the health of: the sea air will set you up again.
7. to establish (a record)
8. informal to cause (a person) to be blamed, accused, etc
9. informal
a. to provide (drinks, etc) for: set 'em up, Joe!.
b. to pay for the drinks of: I'll set up the next round.
10. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing another term for set112
n
11. informal the way in which anything is organized or arranged
12. slang an event the result of which is prearranged: it's a setup.
13. a prepared arrangement of materials, machines, etc, for a job or undertaking
14. (Surveying) a station at which a surveying instrument, esp a theodolite, is set up
15. (Film) films the position of the camera, microphones, and performers at the beginning of a scene
adj
physically well-built
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Verb | 1. | set up - set up or found; "She set up a literacy program" |
2. | set up - create by putting components or members together; "She pieced a quilt"; "He tacked together some verses"; "They set up a committee" bring together, join - cause to become joined or linked; "join these two parts so that they fit together" mix up, jumble, confuse - assemble without order or sense; "She jumbles the words when she is supposed to write a sentence" reassemble - assemble once again, after taking something apart configure - set up for a particular purpose; "configure my new computer"; "configure a plane for a combat mission" compound - create by mixing or combining rig up - erect or construct, especially as a temporary measure; "Can he rig up a P.A. system?" | |
3. | set up - construct, build, or erect; "Raise a barn" construction, building - the act of constructing something; "during the construction we had to take a detour"; "his hobby was the building of boats" | |
4. | set up - get ready for a particular purpose or event; "set up an experiment"; "set the table"; "lay out the tools for the surgery" | |
5. | set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order" regularise, regularize - make regular or more regular; "regularize the heart beat with a pace maker" order - place in a certain order; "order the photos chronologically" order - bring order to or into; "Order these files" straighten - make straight or straighter; "Straighten this post"; "straighten hair" rearrange - put into a new order or arrangement; "Please rearrange these files"; "rearrange the furniture in my room" alphabetise, alphabetize - arrange in alphabetical order; "Alphabetize the list" coordinate, organise, organize - bring order and organization to; "Can you help me organize my files?" stratify - form layers or strata; "The rock stratifies" string, thread, draw - thread on or as if on a string; "string pearls on a string"; "the child drew glass beads on a string"; "thread dried cranberries" marshal - arrange in logical order; "marshal facts or arguments" string - stretch out or arrange like a string string out, spread out - set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series; "the houses were strung out in a long row" stack - arrange the order of so as to increase one's winning chances; "stack the deck of cards" chain - connect or arrange into a chain by linking concord - arrange the words of a text so as to create a concordance; "The team concorded several thousand nouns, verbs, and adjectives" cascade - arrange (open windows) on a computer desktop so that they overlap each other, with the title bars visible settle - arrange or fix in the desired order; "She settled the teacart" pyramid - arrange or build up as if on the base of a pyramid corral - arrange wagons so that they form a corral catenate, catenulate - arrange in a series of rings or chains, as for spores array, lay out, set out, range - lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line; "lay out the clothes"; "lay out the arguments" lay, place, put, set, position, pose - put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point" pile, stack, heap - arrange in stacks; "heap firewood around the fireplace"; "stack your books up on the shelves" stagger, distribute - to arrange in a systematic order; "stagger the chairs in the lecture hall" drape - arrange in a particular way; "drape a cloth" drape - place casually; "The cat draped herself on the sofa" set - fix in a border; "The goldsmith set the diamond" gradate - arrange according to grades; "These lines are gradated" line up - form a line; "The buildings all line up neatly" | |
6. | set up - begin, or enable someone else to begin, a venture by providing the means, logistics, etc.; "set up an election" | |
7. | set up - take or catch as if in a snare or trap; "I was set up!"; "The innocent man was framed by the police" | |
8. | set up - produce; "The scientists set up a shock wave" accomplish, carry out, carry through, fulfil, fulfill, action, execute - put in effect; "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation" precipitate - bring about abruptly; "The crisis precipitated by Russia's revolution" induce, hasten, stimulate, rush - cause to occur rapidly; "the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions" cause, do, make - give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident" serve - contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" | |
9. | set up - set up for use; "install the washer and dryer"; "We put in a new sink" lay, place, put, set, position, pose - put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point" retrofit - fit in or on an existing structure, such as an older house; "The mansion was retrofitted with modern plumbing" reinstall - install again; "She reinstalled the washer after it had been repaired" | |
10. | set up - place; "Her manager had set her up at the Ritz" | |
11. | set up - arrange the outcome of by means of deceit; "rig an election" | |
12. | set up - erect and fasten; "pitch a tent" | |
13. | set up - arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events; "arrange my schedule"; "set up one's life"; "I put these memories with those of bygone times" contemporise, contemporize, synchronise, synchronize - arrange or represent events so that they co-occur; "synchronize biblical events" phrase - divide, combine, or mark into phrases; "phrase a musical passage" | |
14. | set up - equip with sails or masts; "rig a ship" | |
15. | set up - make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc; "Get the children ready for school!"; "prepare for war"; "I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" provide - take measures in preparation for; "provide for the proper care of the passengers on the cruise ship" cram - prepare (students) hastily for an impending exam precondition - put into the required condition beforehand fix - kill, preserve, and harden (tissue) in order to prepare for microscopic study mount - fix onto a backing, setting, or support; "mount slides for macroscopic analysis" lay out, set up, set - get ready for a particular purpose or event; "set up an experiment"; "set the table"; "lay out the tools for the surgery" prime - insert a primer into (a gun, mine, or charge) preparatory to detonation or firing; "prime a cannon"; "prime a mine" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
set 1
verb2. To put in or assign to a certain position or location:
5. To place (a story, for example) in a designated setting:
lay.
8. To calculate approximately:
9. To move (a weapon or blow, for example) in the direction of someone or something:
Military: lay.
10. To change or be changed from a liquid into a soft, semisolid, or solid mass:
set about
phrasal verb
set apart
To make noticeable or different:
set aside
To put an end to, especially formally and with authority:
Law: extinguish.
set back
phrasal verb
set by
phrasal verb
set down
2. To come to rest on the ground:
set forth
phrasal verb
set off
1. To be the cause of:
bring, bring about, bring on, cause, effect, effectuate, generate, induce, ingenerate, lead to, make, occasion, result in, secure, stir (up), touch off, trigger.
Idioms: bring to pass, give rise to.
2. To stir to action or feeling:
3. To endow with beauty and elegance by way of a notable addition:
4. To act as an equalizing weight or force to:
5. To make up for:
set out
1. To go about the initial step in doing (something):
approach, begin, commence, embark, enter, get off, inaugurate, initiate, institute, launch, lead off, open, set about, set to, start, take on, take up, undertake.
Informal: kick off.
3. To proceed in a specified direction:
set to
phrasal verb
set up
2. To bring into existence formally:
1. Firmly established by long standing:
3. Fixed and distinct from others:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُقيم، يُنْشِئيُنَظِّم، يَبْني، يُجَهِّز
připravitseříditustavitvyvolatzaložit
oprette
valmis
aiheuttaaasentaajähmettyäjärjestääkovettua
felállít
setja á laggirnarskipuleggja
hazırlamakkurmakmonte etmek
set
(set) – present participle ˈsetting: past tense, past participle set – verb1. to put or place. She set the tray down on the table.
2. to put plates, knives, forks etc on (a table) for a meal. Please would you set the table for me?
3. to settle or arrange (a date, limit, price etc). It's difficult to set a price on a book when you don't know its value.
4. to give a person (a task etc) to do. The witch set the prince three tasks; The teacher set a test for her pupils; He should set the others a good example.
5. to cause to start doing something. His behaviour set people talking.
6. (of the sun etc) to disappear below the horizon. It gets cooler when the sun sets.
7. to become firm or solid. Has the concrete set?
8. to adjust (eg a clock or its alarm) so that it is ready to perform its function. He set the alarm for 7.00 a.m.
9. to arrange (hair) in waves or curls.
10. to fix in the surface of something, eg jewels in a ring.
11. to put (broken bones) into the correct position for healing. They set his broken arm.
adjective1. fixed or arranged previously. There is a set procedure for doing this.
2. (often with on) ready, intending or determined (to do something). He is set on going.
3. deliberate. He had the set intention of hurting her.
4. stiff; fixed. He had a set smile on his face.
5. not changing or developing. set ideas.
6. (with with) having something set in it. a gold ring set with diamonds.
noun1. a group of things used or belonging together. a set of carving tools; a complete set of (the novels of) Jane Austen.
2. an apparatus for receiving radio or television signals. a television/radio set.
3. a group of people. the musical set.
4. the process of setting hair. a shampoo and set.
5. scenery for a play or film. There was a very impressive set in the final act.
6. a group of six or more games in tennis. She won the first set and lost the next two.
ˈsetting noun1. a background. This castle is the perfect setting for a murder.
2. an arrangement of jewels in eg a ring.
3. music composed for a poem etc. settings of folk songs.
ˈsetback noun a delay in progress.
set phrase a phrase which always occurs in one form, and which cannot be changed. `Of no fixed abode' is a set phrase.
ˈset-square noun a triangular instrument with one right angle, used in geometrical drawing etc.
ˈsetting-lotion noun a lotion that is used in setting the hair.
ˌset-ˈto an argument or fight.
ˈset-up noun an arrangement. There are several families living together in that house – it's a funny set-up.
all set (often with to) ready or prepared (to do something); just on the point of (doing something). We were all set to leave when the phone rang.
set about to begin. She set about planning her holiday; How will you set about this task?
set (someone) against (someone) to cause (a person) to dislike (another person). She set the children against their father.
set aside to keep for a special use or purpose. He set aside some cash for use at the weekend.
set back to delay the progress of. His illness set him back a bit at school.
set down (of a bus etc) to stop and let (passengers) out. The bus set us down outside the post-office.
set in to begin or become established. Boredom soon set in among the children.
set off1. (sometimes with on) to start a journey. We set off to go to the beach.
2. to cause to start doing something. She had almost stopped crying, but his harsh words set her off again.
3. to explode or ignite. You should let your father set off all the fireworks.
set (something or someone) on (someone) to cause (eg dogs) to attack (a person). He set his dogs on me.
set out1. to start a journey. He set out to explore the countryside.
2. to intend. I didn't set out to prove him wrong.
set to to start to do something (vigorously). They set to, and finished the work the same day.
set up1. to establish. When was the organization set up?
2. to arrange or construct. He set up the apparatus for the experiment.
set up camp to erect tents etc. They set up camp in a field.
set up house to establish one's own home. He'll soon be earning enough to set up house on his own.
set up shop to start a shop.
set upon (also set on) to attack. He set upon me in the dark.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.