set
verb, noun, adjective
verb (setting, set, set)
put / start
1 [VN adv./prep.] to put sth/sb in a particular place or position:
She set a tray down on the table. They ate everything that was set in front of them. The house is set (     situated) in fifty acres of parkland.
2 to cause sb/sth to be in a particular state; to start sth happening: [VN, adv./prep.] Her manner immediately set everyone at their ease. He pulled the lever and set the machine in motion. The new leader has set the party on the road to success. [VN-ADJ] The hijackers set the hostages free. [VN ing] Her remarks set me thinking.
play / book / movie
3 [VN] [usually passive] to place the action of a play, novel or film/movie in a particular place, time, etc:
The novel is set in London in the 1960s.
clock / machine
4 [VN] to prepare or arrange sth so that it is ready for use or in position:
She set the camera on automatic. I set my watch by (     make it show the same time as) the TV. Set the alarm for 7 o'clock.
table
5 [VN] ~ a / the table to arrange knives, forks, etc. on a table for a meal:
Could you set the table for dinner? The table was set for six guests.
jewellery
6 [VN] [usually passive] ~ A in B | ~ B with A to put a precious stone into a piece of jewellery:
She had the sapphire set in a gold ring. Her bracelet was set with emeralds.
arrange
7 [VN] to arrange or fix sth; to decide on sth:
They haven't set a date for their wedding yet. The government has set strict limits on public spending this year.
example / standard, etc.
8 [VN] to fix sth so that others copy it or try to achieve it:
This could set a new fashion. They set high standards of customer service. I am unwilling to set a precedent. She set a new world record for the high jump. I rely on you to set a good example.
work / task
9 ~ sth (for sb) | ~ sb (to do sth) to give sb a piece of work, a task, etc:
[VN] Who will be setting (     writing the questions for) the French exam? What books have been set (     are to be studied) for the English course? [VNN, VN] She's set herself a difficult task. She's set a difficult task for herself. [VN to inf] I've set myself to finish the job by the end of the month.
see also SET BOOK
become firm
10 to become firm or hard:
[V] Leave the concrete to set for a few hours. [V-ADJ] The glue had set hard.
face
11 [VN] [usually passive] to fix your face into a firm expression:
Her jaw was set in a determined manner.
hair
12 [VN] to arrange sb's hair while it is wet so that it dries in a particular style:
She had her hair washed and set.
bone
13 [VN] to put a broken bone into a fixed position and hold it there, so that it will heal; to heal in this way:
The surgeon set her broken arm. [also V]
for printing
14 [VN] (technical) to prepare a book, etc. for printing:
Books were previously set by hand but much of the work is now done by computer.
see also TYPESETTER
words to music
15 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to write music to go with words:
Schubert set many poems to music.
of sun / moon
16 [V] to go down below the HORIZON:
We sat and watched the sun setting.
see also SUNSET
OPP RISE
IDIOMS
Idioms containing set are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example set the pace is at pacen.
PHRASAL VERBS
set about sb (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) to attack sb
set about sth [no passive] to start doing sth:
She set about the business of cleaning the house. [ ing] We need to set about finding a solution.
set sb against sb to make sb oppose a friend, relative, etc:
She accused her husband of setting the children against her.
set sth (off) against sth
1 to judge sb/sth by comparing good or positive qualities with bad or negative ones:
Set against the benefits of the new technology, there is also a strong possibility that jobs will be lost.
2 (finance) to record sth as a business cost as a way of reducing the amount of tax you must pay:
to set capital costs off against tax
set sb/sth apart (from sb/sth) to make sb/sth different from or better than others:
Her clear and elegant writing sets her apart from other journalists.
set sth<->apart (for sth) [usually passive] to keep sth for a special use or purpose:
Two rooms were set apart for use as libraries.
set sth<->aside
1 to move sth to one side until you need it
2 to save or keep money or time for a particular purpose:
She tries to set aside some money every month.
3 to not consider sth, because other things are more important:
Let's set aside my personal feelings for now.
4 (law) to state that a decision made by a court of law is not legally valid:
The verdict was set aside by the Appeal Court.
related noun SET-ASIDE
set sth/sb<->back to delay the progress of sth/sb by a particular time:
The bad weather set back the building programme by several weeks.
related noun SETBACK
set sb back sth [no passive] (informal) to cost sb a particular amount of money:
The repairs could set you back over ｣200.
set sth back (from sth) [usually passive] to place sth, especially a building, at a distance from sth:
The house is set well back from the road.
set sb<->down (BrE) (of a bus or train, or its driver) to stop and allow sb to get off:
Passengers may be set down and picked up only at the official stops.
set sth<->down
1 to write sth down on paper in order to record it
2 to give sth as a rule, principle, etc:
The standards were set down by the governing body.
set forth (literary) to start a journey
set sth<->forth (formal) to present sth or make it known:
The President set forth his views in a television broadcast.
set in (of rain, bad weather, infection, etc.) to begin and seem likely to continue:
The rain seemed to have set in for the day.
set sth in / into sth [usually passive] to fasten sth into a flat surface so that it does not stick out from it:
a plaque set into the wall
set off to begin a journey:
We set off for London just after ten.
set sth<->off
1 to make a bomb, etc. explode:
A gang of boys were setting off fireworks in the street.
2 to make an ALARM start ringing:
Opening this door will set off the alarm.
3 to start a process or series of events:
Panic on the stock market set off a wave of selling.
4 to make sth more noticeable or attractive by being placed near it:
That blouse sets off the blue of her eyes.
set sb off (doing sth) to make sb start doing sth such as laughing, crying or talking
set on / upon sb [usually passive] to attack sb suddenly:
I opened the gate, and was immediately set on by a large dog.
set sb/sth<->on sb to make a person or an animal attack sb suddenly:
The farmer threatened to set his dogs on us.
set out
1 to leave a place and begin a journey:
They set out on the last stage of their journey.
2 to begin a job, task, etc. with a particular aim or goal:
She set out to break the world record. They succeeded in what they set out to do.
set sth<->out
1 to arrange or display things:
We'll need to set out some chairs for the meeting. Her work is always very well set out.
2 to present ideas, facts, etc. in an organized way, in speech or writing:
He set out his objections to the plan. She set out the reasons for her resignation in a long letter.
set to (old-fashioned, informal) to begin doing sth in a busy or determined way
set sb<->up
1 to provide sb with the money that they need in order to do sth:
A bank loan helped to set him up in business.
2 (informal) to make sb healthier, stronger, more lively, etc:
The break from work really set me up for the new year.
3 (informal) to trick sb, especially by making them appear guilty of sth:
He denied the charges, saying the police had set him up.
related noun SET-UP
set sth<->up
1 to build sth or put sth somewhere:
The police set up roadblocks on routes out of the city.
2 to make a piece of equipment or a machine ready for use:
She set up her stereo in her bedroom.
3 to arrange for sth to happen:
I've set up a meeting for Friday.
4 to create sth or start it:
to set up a business A fund will be set up for the dead men's families.
5 to start a process or a series of events:
The slump on Wall Street set up a chain reaction in stock markets around the world.
related noun SET-UP
set (yourself) up (as sb) to start running a business:
She took out a bank loan and set up on her own. After leaving college, he set himself up as a freelance photographer.
noun
group

1 [C] ~ (of sth) a group of similar things that belong together in some way:
a set of six chairs a complete set of her novels a set of false teeth a new set of rules to learn You can borrow my keys-I have a spare set.
see also TEA SET

2 [C] a group of objects used together, for example for playing a game:
a chess set

3 [C sing./pl. v.] (sometimes disapproving) a group of people who have similar interests and spend a lot of time together socially:
the smart set (     rich, fashionable people) Dublin's literary set
see also THE JET SET
tv / radio
4 [C] a piece of equipment for receiving television or radio signals
for play / movie
5 (AmE also setting) [C] the scenery used for a play, film/movie, etc:
We need volunteers to help build and paint the set.
6 [C, U] a place where a play is performed or part of a film/movie is filmed:
The cast must all be on (the) set by 7 a.m.
in sport
7 [C] one section of a match in games such as tennis or VOLLEYBALL:
She won in straight sets (     without losing a set).
mathematics
8 [C] a group of things that have a shared quality:
set function / theory
pop music
9 [C] a series of songs or pieces of music that a musician or group performs at a concert:
a stunning solo set of ten songs
class
10 [C] (BrE) a group of school students with a similar ability in a particular subject:
She's in the top set for French.
of face / body
11 [sing.] ~ of sth the way in which sb's face or body is fixed in a particular expression, especially one showing determination:
She admired the firm set of his jaw.
hair
12 [sing.] an act of arranging hair in a particular style while it is wet:
A shampoo and set costs ｣15.
becoming firm
13 [sing.] the state of becoming firm or solid:
To be sure of a good set when making the jam, use preserving sugar with added pectin.
animal's home
14 [C]     SETT
plant
15 [C] a young plant, SHOOT etc. for planting:
onion sets
adjective
in position
1 in a particular position:
a house set in 40 acres of parkland He had close-set eyes.
planned
2 [usually before noun] planned or fixed:
Each person was given set jobs to do. The school funds a set number of free places. Mornings in our house always follow a set pattern. New vehicles must comply with set safety standards.
see also SET BOOK
opinions / ideas
3 not likely to change:
set ideas / opinions / views on how to teach As people get older, they get set in their ways.
meal
4 [only before noun] (of a meal in a restaurant) having a fixed price and a limited choice of dishes:
a set dinner / lunch / meal Shall we have the set menu?
likely / ready
5 ~ for sth | ~ to do sth likely to do sth; ready for sth or to do sth:
Interest rates look set to rise again. The team looks set for victory. Be set to leave by 10 o'clock
face
6 [usually before noun] (of a person's expression) fixed; not natural:
a set smile His face took on a set expression.
IDIOMS
be (dead) set against sth / against doing sth to be strongly opposed to sth:
Why are you so dead set against the idea?
be set on sth / on doing sth to want to do or have sth very much; to be determined to do sth:
She's set on a career in medicine. He's set on getting a new car
more at MARK n.
▼ Từ liên quan / Related words

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