setting

Pluralsettings

1. 1
   time and placenouncountable

   The time, place, and circumstances in which a story, picture, or event is placed.

   The novel's setting shifts from wartime Paris to postwar New York.

   Choosing the right setting gives a painting much of its emotional weight.

   UsageThe setting of or for a story; events happen in a quiet or rural setting.

   Similarbackdrop, background, location, scene, milieu

2. 2
   verb

   Present participle of set.

   The sun is setting slowly behind the hills.

   They are setting a date for the wedding next spring.

3. 3
   control levelnouncountable

   The level, position, or option to which a knob, dial, or other control is set, including the options chosen in a device or app.

   She left the thermostat on its lowest setting overnight.

   The camera offers several manual settings for advanced photographers.

   UsageA device is on a setting: on the lowest setting. In apps it is usually plural: change your settings.

   Similarlevel, position, mode, option

4. 4
   noununcountable

   The act or process of putting something in position, fixing it in place, or becoming firm or solid.

   The setting of the concrete took several hours in the warm air.

   Proper setting of the broken bone was the surgeon's first concern.

   UsageUsually the setting of something: the setting of the concrete, the setting of a bone.

   Similarhardening, fixing, placement, positioning

5. 5
   music for wordsnouncountable

   A piece of vocal or choral music composed to fit a particular set of words.

   Her setting of the elegy moved the whole audience to silence.

   The choir premiered a new setting of the medieval hymn.

   UsageThe words follow of: Schubert's setting of a poem, a new setting of a hymn; the composer can also follow by.

   Similarcomposition

   Note

   The noun comes straight from setting words to music. Because the text stays fixed while the music changes, it is natural to speak of one poem's many settings.

6. 6
   adjective

   Sinking down below the horizon, as the sun does at the end of the day, or as the moon or a star does.

   The setting sun cast long shadows across the field.

   Sailors once steered by the setting stars near the horizon.

   UsageUsually before the noun, most often the setting sun; after it, use the verb: the sun is setting.

   Similardescending

   Oppositerising

   Note

   R. S. McNaught, writing "From the Severn to the Mersey by Great Western" in 1955, has the setting sun twinkling on a locomotive's brass dome.

7. 7
   nouncountable

   The physical surroundings of a thing, or the kind of place or circumstances in which an activity goes on.

   The old farmhouse stands in a lovely setting, surrounded by orchards and low hills.

   Counselors see clients in a range of settings, from schools and clinics to prisons.

   Similarenvironment, surroundings, location, context, backdrop

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