From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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setset1 /set/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle set, present participle setting) 1 put [transitive always + adverb/preposition]PUT written to carefully put something down somewhereset 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 [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put something into a surfacebe 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 doorGrammar Set is usually passive in this meaning.3 story [transitive always + adverb/preposition] if a film, play, story etc is set in a particular place or period, the action takes place there or thenbe 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.Grammar Set is usually passive in this meaning.4 consider [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to consider something in relation to other thingsset 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 somethingSTART something/MAKE something START [transitive] to establish a way of doing something that is then copied or regarded as goodset 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 somethingset 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 etcset 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 Health8 start working [intransitive, transitive] to start doing something in a determined way, or to tell someone to start doing somethingset 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]START something/MAKE something START 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? I set the oven to come on at 12.set something to/at/on something Usually, the heating is set on ‘low’.10 liquid/glue/cement etc [intransitive]HARD to become hard and solid How long does it take for the glue to set? 11 sun [intransitive]DNDOWN when the sun sets, it moves down in the sky and disappears OPP rise12 → set (somebody) a goal13 → set your heart/mind/sights on (doing) something14 → set a record15 → set the table16 → set a trap17 → set somebody free/loose18 → set somebody straight/right19 face [intransitive] written if your face or mouth sets into a particular expression, you start to have an angry, sad, unfriendly etc expressionset into His mouth set into a rather grim line.20 → set your jaw21 bone a) [transitive]MH if a doctor sets a broken bone, he or she moves it into position so that the bone can grow together again b) [intransitive]MI if a broken bone sets, it joins together again22 class work [transitive] British EnglishGIVE to give a student in your class a piece of work to doset somebody something Mr Biggs has set us a 2,000-word essay.23 examination [transitive] British EnglishSEEXAM/TEST to write the questions for an examination The head teacher sets the questions for the English exam. 24 printingTCN [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]DC 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(5), → 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(26), → set the world to rights at world1(27)COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 5: to establish a way of doing something that is then copied or regarded as goodnounsset 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. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 7: to decide and state when something will happen, how much something should cost, what should be done etcnounsset a date/timeNo date has been set for the election.set a priceWe 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 limitsSet strict limits on your spending. → set about something/somebody → set somebody/something against somebody/something → set somebody/something apart → set something ↔ aside → set somebody/something back → set something/somebody ↔ down → set forth → set in → set off → set on somebody → set out → set to → set up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
set• Put the jelly in the fridge for an hour to set.• It's best to pour your yoghurt into small containers before it sets.• Leave the jam in a cool place to set.• At the end of the session, they were set a homework task.• Mr Harris always sets a lot of homework.• Spread the frosting on the brownies in a thin coat, only enough to cover, and set aside to firm.• The rate of interest, in the shape of a tax-free bonus, is set by the Treasury.• They were set for the garlic and the prawns, if they made it quick.• He was not a man to give way easily and he had clearly set his heart on making her recognise her father.• The play is set in Madrid in the year 1840.• Let the dessert set in the fridge for two hours.• The first to be set is the backlight.• We set our alarm for five a.m. so we could get an early start.• The concrete will take several hours to set, so make sure no one walks on it.• Is that all -- or has she set some other task for you as well?• Anneka was set the huge task by Christian Aid on behalf of a family who fled from war-torn Mozambique.• I still haven't figured out how to set the VCR to tape while I'm away.• Much of what follows is set therefore in the form of questions which need to be considered by all of us.• She set us some work to do in groups.• Had the glue set yet?set something (down) on something• By then all they wanted to do was set foot on dry land.• After 10 years of torment, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, 36, threw petrol over sleeping husband Deepak and set him on fire.• He set her on her feet without a word and steadied her while she manoeuvred the crutch into position.• Not for the first time, she wished Great-Aunt Alicia had never set eyes on Matthew Preston.• But as it was, I would have to set off on my own, blindly striking in the direction of Jodhpur.• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, just until cookies are set and browning on the edges.• Make a nest of watercress on each bun half and set the burger on top.• And, perhaps reflecting later, more refined practice, they were all set down on what Taylor termed an instruction card.be set into something• We cooked the meat on a grill set into the table.• In the little churchyard in Sasbach, by contrast, two inconspicuous marble tablets are set into a wall.• Bricks or special edging slabs are set into concrete to provide an appropriate finish.• A word is a group of electronic components, each of which can be set into either of two states.• The girl's face was set into rigid lines from the garden, robbing them of all expression.• The large fish tank is set into the back wall most tastefully.• Canongate had its own Tolbooth, which has survived because it was set into the building line instead of blocking the thoroughfare.• The outer door was set into the lower corner of the left-hand wall.• In addition to ordinary manual control, for experienced cooks, the established instructions can be set into the oven's memory. be set in something• This themed experience is set in a labyrinth of passages, caverns and secret chambers, 60 feet below ground!• His face was set in a painful rictus, his chest heaving as he fought for breath.• His mouth was set in a prim, pained expression of disapproval.• As with most installations, the framing is done first, then the firebox is set in and the chimney assembled.• Constitutionalism, therefore, is to be set in contradistinction to arbitrary power.• The results will be set in the context of a study of the history of planning theory and urban policy making.• And my first novel was set in Toxteth.set in ... context• Prioritizing corporate crime has to be set in context.• For even his negative comments about Feuerbach are set in the context of a generous appreciation of the latter's intentions.• The results will be set in the context of a study of the history of planning theory and urban policy making.• All this is set in the context of conflict.• Performance in education is complex, controversial and should properly be set in the context of long time scales.• Language teaching will thus be set in the context of other influences.• This is set in the context of the changing international structure of the industries.• Unfortunately, the core teachings were set in cultural contexts that have been largely superseded.set the pattern/tone/trend etc (for something)• A 1903 revival at the Opera-Comique set the tone for international acclaim.• But clearly it was imperialistic palaeontologists rather than imperialist fossils that set the pattern in both cases.• Director Andrew Lane has set the tone of the movie at a pitch somewhere between sendup and subtle humor.• It caught on over here some years later with the Seven Men of Preston setting the trend.• That set the pattern for the next few days.• The beginning of the list sets the tone: 1.• The first gallery will set the tone with large, mature pieces. set something in motion/progress/train• Corot set the countryside in motion.• He has set the ball in motion.• Oliver corrected the clock and set it in motion.• On Jan. 13, Vega said, Guzman set his plot in motion.• The programme had lost the man responsible for setting it in motion.• Why, oh, why did you set such enquiries in train?• It is easy to make him look personally responsible for setting the process in train and bringing it to fruition.• How easy to see how a white kid could set this in motion with hardly any effort.set a date/time (for something)• The evening meal is served at a set time and is cooked to cordonbleu standard by Martha and is served by candlelight.• You need to set a time for a family talk and stick to the schedule.• The administration has 30 days to set a date for talks.• They pay a fixed income each year and promise to pay investors a set sum on a set date in the future.• I think most members here would agree that setting time lines or deadlines is really not advisable in most cases.• There are no set times or anything, I just do what I feel like.• After the initial excitement of announcing the engagement and setting a date, planning the event begins.set to work to do something• Murdock had found these ideas rather attractive and set to work to build a locomotive model.• Rayleigh and Jeans set to work to calculate this spectrum.• Having obtained this, he set to work to enclose the parish and to rearrange its landscape.• Beauty therapist Suzanne set to work to reduce the Santa spread by preparing Frigi-Thalgo.• Einstein, therefore, set to work to try to demolish the accepted version of quantum mechanics. set the alarm• Also, tell the security guard the office is empty so he can set the alarm.• I set the alarm clock for a quarter to midnight, and settled down for a couple of hours sleep.• He covered her with a blanket and set the alarm clock to ring in an hour, wrapping it in a towel.• I would then return to bed, setting the alarm for 7 a.m. for a repeat performance.• When users set the alarm in the internal clock, they would click on a picture of a rooster.• The sensor doesn't set the alarm off; the system isn't armed.• He locked his doors, cranked the seat back, and set the alarm on his wrist-watch.• So I set the alarm to go off at 2.sets the questions• Meanwhile, Hilary Murphy, who sets the questions, puts the final touches to Bob's board.setset2 ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 group of things [countable]GROUP OF THINGS a group of similar things that belong together or are related in some wayset of a set of tools We face a new set of problems. The older generation have a different set of values. a chess set2 television/radio [countable]TCB a television, or a piece of equipment for receiving radio signals a colour television set3 film [countable]AMF a place where a film or television programme is filmedon set/on the set Cruise met Kidman on the set of ‘Days of Thunder’.4 stage [countable]APT the scenery, furniture etc used on a stage in a play or in the place where a film or television show is being made5 sport [countable]DS one part of a game such as tennis or volleyball Nadal won the second set 6–4. 6 people [singular]FRIEND 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 set7 → the set of somebody’s face/jaw/shoulders etc8 music [countable]APM a performance by a singer, band, or disc jockey Sasha performed a three-hour set.9 maths [countable] technicalHMN a group of numbers, shapes etc in mathematics The set (x, y) has two members.10 students [countable] British EnglishSESCLASS/GROUP OF STUDENTS a group of children who are taught a particular school subject together because they have the same level of ability in that subject SYN streamtop/bottom etc set Adam’s in the top set for maths.11 onion [countable]DLGHBP a small onion that you plant in order to grow bigger ones onion setsExamples from the Corpus
set• On February 6 the group presented to college president Buell Gallagher a set of five demands.• Amy bought him a set of tools for metal and woodworking.• You could machine a set of four in a day.• We started the meeting by agreeing on a set of objectives.• The head teacher was presented with a set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, worth more than £1,600.• a set of commemorative gold coins• She likes to mingle with the arty set.• You'll get a better set if you use gelatin.• I was useless at school -- always in the bottom set in every subject.• For sale - "The Guitarist" magazine - complete set, 1984-1992.• a cutlery set• Four different sets of stimuli were used.• The first set of questions wasn't too bad, but they got really difficult after that.• We think you've improved sufficiently to go up to a higher set.• In addition, Ariat, which is carried by equestrian retailers and at Nordstrom, has made inroads beyond the horsey set.• She's in set one for maths and English and set two for history.• Like Mount Everest, the Mandelbrot set is just there!• Richard had been passed from one set of foster parents to another until he was ten.• In the second set, Sampras led 5 - 4.• But this is actually only one of six sets of regulations and guidance which are due to come into force.• I gave a spare set of house keys to my neighbours.• a color television set• Wagner won a Tony for the set of "On the Twentieth Century."• She was on the set early to read over her new lines.• He soon hooked up with the set of young people he knew who had already moved to the city.• a train set• He thus developed a theory which argues that there are two sets of factors at work.set of• I'm thinking of buying a set of golf clubs.• It was a peculiar set of events that brought me here.• His determination to win was evident in the set of his jaw.television set• It is designed to sit in the living room and plug into a television set and hi-fi.• I could see the flicker of a television set reflected in the glass, though.• Moments before boarding I caught a glimpse of a television set in the departure lounge.• She watched events on a color television set in the cubicle where she sat, collecting fees from her customers.• Chances are you have at least one television set in your home that is used by most members of your family.• Only the music centre and the television set were comparatively new.• Margotte rarely turned on the television set.• Four years of free-market reforms and strong agricultural output are cracking open the mammoth market for everything from toiletries to television sets. top/bottom etc set• When closed together, the top set of teeth should be just in front of the bottom set.setset3 ●○○ adjective 1 placedPLACE [not before noun] being in the position that is mentionedset in/on/back etc a medieval village set high on a hill a big house set back from the road2 background used to say that something is in front of a particular background, especially in a way that is attractiveset against a small town of white buildings, set against a background of hills pink petals set against dark green foliage3 fixedCHANGE/MAKE something DIFFERENT [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] informalREADY someone who is set for something is ready for itset 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) something6 opinions/habits etcCHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT# 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 something8 → set to do something9 → deep-set/wide-set/close-set eyes10 → be set with gems/jewels etc11 meal [only before noun] British EnglishDFDL a set meal in a restaurant has a fixed price and a more limited choice than usualset lunch/dinner/menu The hotel does a very good set menu.12 → set book/text etc13 fixed expression literaryPRETENDDETERMINED 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.Examples from the Corpus
set• Workers earn a set amount for each piece they sew.• The Designer's floor model and plans would be complete with set construction hopefully under way.• The company will match your donations to charity, up to a set limit.• They each travel in their own set pattern, but don't assume they're easy to avoid!• There is no set pattern for this.• So it is very difficult to achieve what one might call a set pattern in life.• Unfortunately, few activities can be shut down for set periods, most being operational all the year round.• By looking for a set result you are excluding all the learning potential from the exercise.• Organized ski treks exist, their routes following set trails with accommodation enroute.set in/on/back etc• The full council will confirm the charges set on 4 March.• Early in 1982, before El Chichón erupted, a steep decline in temperature set in.• But reality soon set in, both for the car makers and the government.• Until the job is actually offered and refused, however, nothing is set in concrete.• While her hair was set in large heated rollers to give fullness, Lizzie set to work on Angela's make-up.• The weather was wet and chilly and this run underlines the standard that White is setting in the club this year.• Handmade mats were stacked to one side and a tiny fireplace was set in the floor.• Greater Tuna, a comedy that continues through June 1, is set in the third-smallest town in Texas.set for• Get set for a full evening of hot and spicy entertainment.• Newspaper group the Daily Mail looks set for a healthy year-end rise in profits when it announces results on Wednesday.• Targets may be set for any parameter that can be measured as the project proceeds, such as cost, time and performance.• A first working session is set for February in Vienna.• Some Western analysts considered that Soviet spending estimates should be doubled to take account of artificially low prices set for hardware.• Closing arguments are set for June 10.• It goes on controlled release in July and general availability is set for October, but there was no indication of price.• Less and less, even in popular understanding, is it regarded as merely the setting for the institution narrative.• No date has been set for the start up. set ideas• It's too complicated for set ideas.• I used to have set ideas but the older I get the more I learn from.set lunch/dinner/menu• Breakfast is buffet style and dinner is a three course set menu.• Breakfast is continental, whilst dinner is three courses from a set menu.• La Carte While the restaurant offers a comprehensive la carte menu, nearly everyone chooses one of the set menus.• Yet the set dinner at the Holcombe only cost £17.95 and breakfast cost £6.50 - a total of £24.45.• Buffet-style breakfast and lunch; set menu for dinner; mineral water flows from taps.• Buffet-style breakfast and lunch; set menu for dinner; self service taverna.• Dinner is a set menu of three courses.set smile/teeth/jaw• Gloria greeted her guests with a set smile.• Find a coal-eyed, muscular Provo with a set jaw and angry brow, and make love to him. From Longman Business DictionarySETSET noun [uncountable] computing (secure electronic transfer) a way of buying and paying for goods on the Internet that allows the safe exchange of personal and financial informationsetset1 /set/ verb (past tense and past participle set, present participle setting)1[transitive] to decide that something should happen on a particular date, cost a particular amount, be done in a particular way etcWe haveset a deadline of 31 December for the receipt of bids.The initialprice is set at $6 a share.The OPEC agreementset aproduction ceiling (=limit) of 22.5 million barrels of oil a day.2set standards/aims/targets/goals to establish standards, aims etc for doing somethingThe new Chief Executive will be under pressure to maintain the growth targets set by his predecessor.Twenty-one computer companies met to set a standard for advanced computers.3set somebody a goal/challenge/target to decide that someone should try to achieve something, especially something that needs a lot of effortThe sales force was set a challenge — to find three good ideas for improving profit levels. → set something against something → set something (off) against something → set something → aside → set back → set something → down → set out → set something up→ See Verb tablesetset2 adjective [only before a noun] set amount/date/price etc an amount, date etc that is fixed and cannot be changedThese bonds pay investors a set sum on a set date in the future.The subcontractor employs the workforce for aset wage. → see also commercial setOrigin set1 Old English settan set2 1. (1300-1400) Old French sette, from Latin secta; → SECT2. (1300-1400) → SET1 set3 (1200-1300) Past participle of → SET1 