set
[verb]
Synonyms:
- put, deposit, lay, locate, place, plant, position, rest, seat, situate, station, stick
- prepare, arrange, lay, make ready, spread
- harden, cake, congeal, crystallize, solidify, stiffen, thicken
- arrange, appoint, decide (upon), determine, establish, fix, fix up, resolve, schedule, settle, specify
- assign, allot, decree, impose, ordain, prescribe, specify
- go down, decline, dip, disappear, sink, subside, vanish
[noun]
Synonyms:
- position, attitude, bearing, carriage, posture
- scenery, scene, setting, stage set
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- fixed, agreed, appointed, arranged, decided, definite, established, prearranged, predetermined, scheduled, settled
- inflexible, hard and fast, immovable, rigid, stubborn
- conventional, stereotyped, traditional, unspontaneous
- set on or upon: determined, bent, intent, resolute
————————
[noun]
Synonyms:
- series, assortment, batch, collection, compendium
- group, band, circle, clique, company, coterie, crowd, faction, gang

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Antonyms: clear, rise
Contrasted words: displace, replace, supplant, remove, take (away), uproot, ascend, climb, come up
Related Idioms: set one's sights on
Related Words: bestow, deposit, park, emplace, ensconce, install, affix, anchor, wedge, designate, direct, instruct, specify, stipulate, establish, make, name, fix, prepare, ready, arrange, hatch, incubate, hover, descend, drop, crystallize, granulate, confirmed, entrenched, established, inveterate, rooted, well-set, well-settled, prescribed, specified, diehard, inflexible, obstinate, pigheaded, rigid, unbending, unyielding, fastened, close, sound, assortment, gaggle, kit, pack, clan, clique, crew, gang, mob, cénacle, camp, faction, company

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. set¹ S1 W1 /set/ verb (past tense and past participle set, present participle setting)
[Language: Old English; Origin: settan]

1. PUT [transitive always + adverb/preposition] written to carefully put something down somewhere
set something (down) on something
She set the tray down on a table next to his bed.
Mark filled the pan and set it on the stove.
set something down/aside
The workmen set the box down carefully on the floor.
Remove the mushrooms and set them aside.

2. PUT INTO SURFACE [T always + adv/prep, usually passive] to put something into a surface
be set into something
Gates should be hung on sturdy posts set well into the ground.
be set into the wall/floor/ceiling etc (=be built into the surface of something so that it does not stick out)
an alarm button set into the wall beside the door

3. STORY [T always + adv/prep, usually passive] if a film, play, story etc is set in a particular place or period, the action takes place there or then
be set in something
The novel is set in France.
be set against something
All this romance is set against a backdrop of rural Irish life.

4. CONSIDER [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to consider something in relation to other things
set something against/beside something
These casualty totals have to be set against the continuing growth in traffic.
This debate should be set in an international context.

5. ESTABLISH SOMETHING [transitive] to establish a way of doing something that is then copied or regarded as good
set the pattern/tone/trend etc (for something)
Art and literature flourished and this set the pattern for the whole of Europe.
The Prime Minister’s fierce speech set the tone for the rest of the conference.
It is important that parents set an example (=behave well).
The outcome of the case will set a legal precedent.
His photographs set the standard for landscapes.
Freud’s views on sexuality set the agenda for much of the century (=people paid attention to the subjects he dealt with).

6. START SOMETHING HAPPENING [transitive] to make something start happening or to make someone start doing something
set something in motion/progress/train
A study by military experts was immediately set in motion.
The chief executive will set in train the process of finding a successor.
set something on fire/alight/ablaze (also set fire to something) (=make something start burning)
Protesters set fire to two buses.
set somebody/something doing something
Her last remark has set me thinking.
The wind set the trees rustling.

7. DECIDE SOMETHING [transitive] to decide and state when something will happen, how much something should cost, what should be done etc
set a date/time (for something)
The government has still not set a date for the election.
International companies set the price of oil.
set standards/limits/guidelines etc
high standards of hygiene set by the Department of Health

8. START WORKING [intransitive and transitive] to start doing something in a determined way, or to tell someone to start doing something
set to work to do something
They set to work to paint the outside of the building.
set (somebody) to work on something
He’s about to set to work on a second book.
set (somebody) to work doing something
The boys were set to work collecting firewood.
set somebody to do something
Rocard set himself to reform public sector industry.

9. MACHINE/CLOCK ETC [transitive] to move a switch on a machine, clock etc so that it will start or stop working at the time you want, or in the way you want:
Did you set the alarm?
Remember to set the video to record the film.
set something to/at/on something
Usually, the heating is set on ‘low’.

10. LIQUID/GLUE/CEMENT ETC [intransitive] to become hard and solid:
How long does it take for the glue to set?

11. SUN [intransitive] when the sun sets, it moves down in the sky and disappears Antonym : rise

12. set (somebody) a goal (also set (somebody) a task/challenge British English) to say what you or someone else will or must try to achieve:
It’s best to set realistic goals that you can achieve.
He set himself the task of learning Japanese.

13. set your heart/mind/sights on (doing) something to want very much to have or achieve something, or to be determined to do something:
Ellen has completely set her heart on that house.
He set his sights on crossing the Pacific by balloon.

14. set a record to achieve the best result in a sport, competition etc that has ever been achieved, by running fastest, jumping highest etc:
The Kenyan runner set a new Olympic Record in the 3,000 metres.

15. set the table to arrange plates, knives, cups etc on a table so that it is ready for a meal Synonym : lay the table British English

16. set a trap
a) to make a trap ready to catch an animal
b) to invent a plan to try and catch someone who is doing something wrong:
They decided to set a trap for him by leaving him in charge.

17. set somebody free/loose to allow a person or an animal to be free:
All the other hostages were finally set free.

18. set somebody straight/right to tell someone the right way to do something or the true facts about something
set somebody straight/right on
I set him right on a few points of procedure. ⇒ set something right at right¹(4), ⇒ set the record straight at record¹(10)

19. FACE [intransitive] written if your face or mouth sets into a particular expression, you start to have an angry, sad, unfriendly etc expression
set into
His mouth set into a rather grim line.

20. set your jaw to move your lower jaw forward in a way that shows your determination

21. BONE
a) [transitive] if a doctor sets a broken bone, he or she moves it into position so that the bone can grow together again
b) [intransitive] if a broken bone sets, it joins together again

22. CLASS WORK [transitive] British English to give a student in your class a piece of work to do
set somebody something
Mr Biggs has set us a 2,000-word essay.

23. EXAMINATION [transitive] British English to write the questions for an examination:
The head teacher sets the questions for the English exam.

24. PRINTING [transitive] to arrange the words and letters of a book, newspaper etc so it is ready to be printed:
In those days, books had to be set by hand.

25. HAIR [transitive] to arrange someone’s hair while it is wet so that it has a particular style when it dries ⇒ set somebody at (their) ease at ease¹(2), ⇒ set your face against something at face¹(21), ⇒ set something to music at music(1), ⇒ set the pace at pace¹(7), ⇒ set pen to paper at pen¹(3), ⇒ set sail at sail²(2), ⇒ set the scene at scene(9), ⇒ set the stage for something at stage¹(7), ⇒ set great store by/on something at store¹(6), ⇒ set the world on fire/alight at world¹(22), ⇒ set the world to rights at world¹(23)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. set² S1 W1 noun
[Sense 1-2, 5-6, 8-10: Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: sette, from Latin secta; ⇒ sect]
[Sense 3-4, 7, 11: Date: 1300-1400; Origin: ⇒ set¹]

1. GROUP OF THINGS [countable] a group of similar things that belong together or are related in some way
set of
a set of tools
We face a new set of problems.
The older generation have a different set of values.
a chess set

2. TELEVISION/RADIO [countable] a television, or a piece of equipment for receiving radio signals:
a colour television set

3. FILM [countable] a place where a film or television programme is filmed
on set/on the set
Cruise met Kidman on the set of ‘Days of Thunder’.

4. STAGE [countable] the scenery, furniture etc used on a stage in a play or in the place where a film or television show is being made

5. SPORT [countable] one part of a game such as tennis or volleyball:
Nadal won the second set 6–4.

6. PEOPLE [singular] a group of people who are similar in some way and spend time together socially:
a favourite meeting place of the smart set (=rich and fashionable people)
Val got in with a wild set at college. ⇒ jet set

7. the set of sb’s face/jaw/shoulders etc the expression on your face or the way you hold your body, which tells people how you are feeling:
From the set of her shoulders, it was clear that Sue was exhausted.
the hard set of his face

8. MUSIC [countable] a performance by a singer, band, or disc jockey:
Sasha performed a three-hour set.

9. MATHS [countable] technical a group of numbers, shapes etc in mathematics:
The set (x, y) has two members.

10. STUDENTS [countable] British English a group of children who are taught a particular school subject together because they have the same level of ability in that subject Synonym : stream
top/bottom etc set
Adam’s in the top set for maths.

11. ONION [countable] a small onion that you plant in order to grow bigger ones:
onion sets

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. set³ adjective
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Past participle of ⇒ set¹]

1. PLACED [not before noun] being in the position that is mentioned
set in/on/back etc
a medieval village set high on a hill
a big house set back from the road

2. BACKGROUND used to say that something is in front of a particular background, especially in a way that is attractive
set against
a small town of white buildings, set against a background of hills
pink petals set against dark green foliage

3. FIXED [only before noun] a set amount, time etc is fixed and is never changed:
We were paid a set amount each week.
The evening meal is served at a set time.
Small children like a set routine.

4. READY [not before noun] informal someone who is set for something is ready for it
set for
Are you all set for the trip?
set to do something
I was just set to go when the phone rang.
Get set (=get ready) for a night of excitement.
On your marks – get set – go (=said to start a race).

5. set on/upon/against (doing) something determined about something:
Nina’s set on going to the party.
The government’s dead set (=completely determined) against the plan.

6. OPINIONS/HABITS ETC not likely to change:
People had very set ideas about how to bring up children.
Mark was 65 and rather set in his ways (=habits).

7. have your heart/sights set on something to want to do something very much, or to be aiming to do something:
She’s got her heart set on going to France this summer.
Don has his sights set on a career in law.

8. set to do something likely to do something:
The weather is set to change.
This issue is set to cause some embarrassment.

9. deep-set/wide-set/close-set eyes eyes whose position is deep in the face, far apart on the face, or close together on the face

10. be set with gems/jewels etc to be decorated with jewels:
a gold bracelet set with rubies

11. MEAL [only before noun] British English a set meal in a restaurant has a fixed price and a more limited choice than usual
set lunch/dinner/menu
The hotel does a very good set menu.

12. set book/text etc British English a book that must be studied for an examination

13. FIXED EXPRESSION literary if your face is set, it has a fixed expression on it, especially one that is angry, worried etc:
He stared at her, his face set.
Kate’s face was set in a grim expression.
set smile/teeth/jaw
‘Damn you,’ he said through set teeth.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

set
adj.
I. ready
VERBS be, look, seem | get (used when starting a race) Get set … Go!
ADV. all Are you all set? Let's go!
PREP. for The Italian team looks set for victory.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

set
II. determined
VERBS be
ADV. dead
PREP. against Her father is dead set against the marriage.
on The council is now set on expanding the sports centre.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

set
noun
I. group of similar things
ADJ. complete, full, whole | common These two species share a common set of characteristics.
closed, open A grammatical choice is drawn from a closed set of options.
complex | data, instruction a computer's instruction set
chess, dinner, printing, tea, train
VERB + SET break up She had a complete set of these dining-room chairs but it was broken up after she died.
complete, make up She won a silver medal in the long jump to complete her set (= of all three types of medal).
SET + VERB comprise sth, consist of sth
PREP. in a/the ~ There are ten pictures in the set.
~ of a set of accounts/books/clothes/keys/valves a set of beliefs/circumstances/factors/guidelines
PHRASES one/part of a set The plate is part of a set.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

set
II. scenery for play or film
ADJ. film, stage, studio
VERB + SET design | build | dismantle, take down
PREP. off ~ Off set, the two actors became close friends.
on (the) ~ All the cast are on the set throughout.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

set
III. in tennis
VERB + SET play | win | lose
PHRASES in straight sets Rusedski won in straight sets (= his opponent won none).

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

set

set an example (=behave well in a way that other people can copy)
Parents should try to set a good example to their teenagers.
set a precedent (=do something that later actions or decisions may be based on)
This legislation would set a most dangerous precedent.
set the pattern/trend (=do something in a way that is later repeated)
That first day seemed to set the pattern for the following weeks.
set the tone (=establish a general mood or feeling)
The gloomy first chapter sets the tone for the rest of the novel.
set the standard (=be very good, and so show how good other people or things should be)
They wanted to set the standard for software.
set the agenda (=establish what subjects should be discussed)
We are not attempting to set the agenda for other women’s groups.
set the pace (=move or change quickly, so that others try to do the same)
With regard to industrialization, Britain set the pace in the first half of the nineteenth century.
set a date/time
No date has been set for the election.
set a price
We set the price at £30.
set standards/guidelines (=decide on standards, rules etc)
The government has set new food quality standards for all school canteens.
set limits
Set strict limits on your spending.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

set
set
See: get set

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲