set

Less common meanings

16. 16
    adjective

    Ready and able to start something.

    On your marks, get set, go!

    Are you all set for the trip?

    UsageSay all set: are you all set for the trip?

    Similarready, prepared, poised, organized

    Oppositeunprepared, unready

    Note
17. 17
    lay out dishesverbtransitive

    To lay the table with plates, knives, and forks.

    I'll set the table if you do the dishes.

    Who's going to set the table tonight?

    UsageSay set the table.

    Similarlay, prepare, arrange

    Oppositeclear

18. 18
    workout groupnouncountable

    In exercise, a group of repetitions done without a rest.

    Do three sets of ten push-ups.

    This is the fourth set of bench presses.

    UsageSay three sets of ten.

    Note
19. 19
    part of a matchnouncountable

    In tennis, a group of games that makes up part of a match.

    She won the first set six games to four.

    The match went to five sets.

    UsageYou win or lose a set in tennis.

    Note
20. 20
    broadcast receivernouncountable

    A television or radio, as a piece of equipment.

    We bought our first television set in 1965.

    Turn the set off and go to bed.

    UsageSay TV set or television set.

    Similarreceiver, television, TV

21. 21
    social groupnouncountable

    A group of people who mix together or share an interest.

    She was popular with the younger set at the club.

    The literary set met at the same cafe every week.

    UsageSay the jet set or the younger set. It can sound unkind.

    Similarcircle, crowd, clique, group, coterie

    Note
22. 22
    adjective

    Having firmly made up your mind to do something, or firmly against doing it.

    He is set on getting there before dark.

    She was set on becoming a doctor.

    UsageSay set on doing something, or set against doing it.

    Similardetermined, intent, bent, resolved, adamant

    Oppositeundecided, irresolute, hesitant, uncertain

    Note
23. 23
    become solidverbintransitive

    To become hard or solid.

    The pudding sets in the fridge in about two hours.

    Leave the jelly to set overnight.

    UsagePut the jelly in the fridge to set.

    Similarharden, solidify, stiffen, thicken, firm

    Oppositemelt, soften, liquefy

24. 24
    fix a boneverbtransitive

    To put a broken bone, or one pushed out of its joint, back in place so it can heal.

    The doctor set the broken bone.

    They had to set his arm in the field hospital.

    Similarrealign, reduce

25. 25
    adjective

    Hard and solid, no longer soft.

    Don't touch the jelly until it's set.

    The concrete was set by morning.

    Similarhard, hardened, solid, firm, stiff

    Oppositesoft, liquid, runny, wet

26. 26
    verbtransitive or intransitive

    To write music to go with words, like a poem.

    She set her grandmother's poem to music for the wedding.

    He wants to set the words of the old prayer to a simple tune.

    UsageYou set words to music.

    Note
27. 27
    attitudenouncountable

    A fixed way of thinking or behaving.

    A fixed mental set can stop you from seeing an easy answer.

    His mental set made him see every problem the same way.

    Similarattitude, disposition, bent, bias, cast

28. 28
    verbtransitive

    In volleyball, to hit the ball up to a teammate so that they can hit it hard over the net.

    I'll set the ball, and you jump and hit it.

    She set the ball perfectly for her best friend.

    UsageSet the ball to a teammate.

    Note
29. 29
    verbtransitive

    To put letters and words in order so that they can be printed.

    It took him all morning to set one page of the old newspaper.

    The poems were set by hand in a small print shop.

    Similartypeset

    Note
30. 30
    nounUKcountable

    In UK schools, a class for one subject, with students grouped by how good they are.

    Tom moved up to the top set for maths this year.

    Our school has four sets for English.

    UsageYou can be in the top set for maths.

    Note
31. 31
    verbtransitive

    Of a plant, to start growing fruit or seeds, usually after its flowers are pollinated.

    Our tomato plants did not set any fruit during the heat wave.

    The beans flowered in June and set pods a week later.

    Similarbear, produce

    Note
32. 32
    verbtransitive

    To arrange hair, often while it is wet and in rollers, so it dries in a certain style.

    Grandma sets her hair in pink rollers every Saturday night.

    Can you set my hair before the party tonight?

    UsageSay have your hair set.

    Similarstyle, curl

33. 33
    nouncolloquialcountable

    The way something sits or fits, like how a coat hangs on you.

    After the tailor's changes, the set of the jacket across my shoulders was perfect.

    I could tell she was angry from the set of her mouth.

    UsageSay the set of his jaw or the set of a coat.

    Similarfit, hang

    Note
34. 34
    nouncountable

    A small bulb or root part, like a small onion or potato, that is planted instead of a seed.

    We planted onion sets along the edge of the garden in spring.

    Push each set into the soil so that just the tip shows.

    Note
35. 35
    verbdated

    To fix something in place so it cannot move.
36. 36
    verb

    To hit a nail with a tool so its top goes down into the wood.
37. 37
    verb

    To describe a scene or situation.
38. 38
    verb

    To write a quiz, crossword, or test for others.
39. 39
    verb

    To get a stage ready for a play or film.
40. 40
    verb

    To think up work and give it to someone.
41. 41
    verb

    To make something thick and solid, like milk turning into curd.
42. 42
    verb

    In bridge, to stop the other side from winning the tricks they bid for.
43. 43
    verbobsolete

    To start moving or begin a journey.

    The king is set from London, and the scene is now transported, gentles, to Southampton

    1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”
44. 44
    verb

    Of a plant, seed or fruit, to take root, start to grow, or begin to form.
45. 45
    verbdialectalMidwestern USSouthern US

    To sit.
46. 46
    verbdialectalMidwestern USSouthern US

    To rest or stay in a place.
47. 47
    verb

    To hunt with a dog that shows where birds are.
48. 48
    verb

    Of a dog, to stop and show where animals are hiding.
49. 49
    verb

    To start working hard on something.
50. 50
    verb

    To put young plants into soil.
51. 51
    verb

    To become stiff or fixed in place.
52. 52
    verb

    Of water or wind, to move in one direction.
53. 53
    verb

    In a dance, to step side to side facing your partner.
54. 54
    verb

    To put a jewel into a ring or other piece.
55. 55
    verb

    To get something ready or arranged.
56. 56
    verb

    To spread something out and put it in place, such as a boat's sails.
57. 57
    verb

    To sing or play a note that shows how high a song should start.
58. 58
    verbdialectal

    Of food, to feel fine or not fine in your stomach.
59. 59
    verb

    To put stone blocks firmly in place in a building.
60. 60
    verbobsolete

    To bet or risk money or something valuable.

    I have set my life upon a cast, / And I will stand the hazard of the die.

    c. 1593, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third:”
61. 61
    verb

    To decorate something by putting jewels or other things in it.
62. 62
    verbobsolete

    To decide how much something is worth.

    I do not set my life at a pin's fee.

    c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”
63. 63
    verbdialectalScotland

    To look nice on someone.
64. 64
    verb

    To put a hen on eggs so chicks hatch.
65. 65
    noun

    A small steel tool used to sink nail heads.
66. 66
    noun

    The underground home of a badger.
67. 67
    noun

    The pattern of lines in plaid cloth.
68. 68
    noun

    A stone block used to pave a road.
69. 69
    noun

    How far a saw's teeth stick out to the sides.
70. 70
    noun

    A change in shape that stays after something is pushed or bent too much.
71. 71
    noun

    A block put on a post being driven into the ground, so the hammer can reach it.
72. 72
    noundated

    How wide a piece of printing type is.
73. 73
    noun

    A baby oyster that has just stuck to something.
74. 74
    noun

    All the baby oysters in one place.
75. 75
    noun

    The way the colored stripes on a plaid cloth are arranged.
76. 76
    noun

    How much a roof tile curves.
77. 77
    noun

    The eggs a hen sits on to hatch.
78. 78
    nounobsolete

    Money or something else you bet, or a game played for bets.

    That was but civil war, an equal set.

    1687, [John Dryden], The Hind and the Panther
79. 79
    noun

    A tool used to shape hot iron.
80. 80
    noun

    A young plant or cutting ready to go in the ground.
81. 81
    noun

    A tiny new fruit just starting to grow.
82. 82
    noun

    Sunset, or the end of the day.
83. 83
    noun

    The way something is moving or tending.
84. 84
    nouncolloquial

    A short, informal name for set theory, the part of math about groups of things, said as 'sets'.
85. 85
    noun

    The whole area where a film is shot, including the scenery and room for cast and crew.
86. 86
    noun

    The way dancers stand at the start.
87. 87
    noun

    One section of a match in sports like volleyball, won by reaching enough points, usually two ahead.
88. 88
    noun

    In volleyball, a pass up to a teammate who hits it.
89. 89
    nounslang

    In poker, three cards of the same value, usually with two of them in your own hand.
90. 90
    verbUK

    To put students in groups by how good they are at a subject.