transitive verb set, setting
- to place in a sitting position; cause to sit; seat
- to cause (a fowl) to sit on eggs in order to hatch them
- to put (eggs) under a fowl or in an incubator to hatch them
- to put in a certain place or position; cause to be, lie, stand, etc. in a place: set the book on the table
- to put in the proper or designated place: to set a wheel on an axle
- to put or move (a part of the body) into or on a specified place: to set foot on land
- to bring (something) into contact with something else: to burn a paper by setting a match to it
- Archaic to put in writing; record
- to put or affix (one's signature, seal, etc.) to a document
- to cause to be in some condition or relation; specif.,
- to cause to be or become: to set a house on fire
- to put in a certain physical position: to set a book on end
- to cause to be in working or proper condition; put in order; arrange; fix; adjust; specif.,
- to fix (a net, trap, etc.) in a position to catch animals
- to fix (a sail) in a position to catch the wind
- to put (a part of a device) in position to work: to set a chuck on a lathe
- to adjust so as to be in a desired position for use; regulate: to set a radio dial, a clock, a thermostat, etc.
- to place (oneself) in readiness for action
- to put an edge on (a knife, razor, etc.)
- to adjust (a saw) by slightly deflecting alternate teeth in opposite directions
- to sink (the head of a nail, screw, etc.) below a surface
- to arrange (a table) with knives, forks, plates, etc. for a meal
- to put (a dislocated joint or fractured bone) into normal position for healing, mending, etc.
- to cause to be in a settled or firm position; specif.,
- to put or press into a fixed or rigid position: to set one's jaw
- to cause (one's mind, purpose, etc.) to be fixed, unyielding, determined, etc.
- to cause to become firm or hard in consistency: pectin sets jelly
- to make (a color) fast in dyeing
- to mount, embed, or fix (gems) in rings, bracelets, etc.
- to cover, encrust, or decorate (gold, watches, etc.) with gems
- to fix firmly in a frame: set the glass in the window
- to arrange (hair) in the desired style with lotions, hairpins, etc. and let it dry
- to transplant (a shoot, etc.)
- to cause to take a particular direction; specif.,
- to cause to move as specified; propel: the current set them eastward
- to point, direct, or face as specified: to set one's face toward home
- to direct (one's desires, hopes, heart, etc.) with serious attention (in or on someone or something)
- to appoint, establish, ordain, etc.; specif.,
- to post or station for certain duties: to set sentries at a gate
- to place in a position of authority
- to fix (limits or boundaries)
- to fix or appoint (a time) for something to happen: to set Friday as the deadline
- to fix a time for (an event)
- to establish (a regulation, law, record, etc.) or prescribe (a form, order, etc.)
- to give or furnish (an example, pattern, etc.) for others
- to introduce (a fashion, style, etc.)
- to allot or assign (a task, lesson, etc.) for work or study
- to fix (a quota, as of work) for a given period
- to begin to apply (oneself) to a task, etc.
- to estimate or fix; place mentally; specif.,
- to fix (the amount of a price, fine, etc.)
- to fix (a price, fine, etc.) at a specified amount
- to estimate or value: to set at naught all that one has won
- to fix or put as an estimate: to set little store by someone
- Baking to put aside (leavened dough) to rise
- Bridge to prevent (one's opponents) from making their bid
- Hunting to point toward the position of (game): said of a dog
- Music to write or fit (words to music or music to words)
- Printing
- to arrange (type) for printing
- to produce or reproduce (printed matter) by computer or photocomposition
- to put (a piece of writing) into print
- Theater
- to place (a scene) in a given locale
- to make up or arrange (scenery) on the stage
- to arrange the scenery and properties on: the stage
Origin:
ME setten < OE settan (akin to Ger setzen & Goth satjan < Gmc *satjan), caus. formation “to cause to sit” < base of sit