SET | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English settan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zetten, German setzen, also to sit

put, lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position

put, lay, or stand something in specified place or position

• Delaney set the mug of tea down
• Catherine set a chair by the bed

put or bring into a specified state

put or bring into specified state

• the Home Secretary set in motion a review of the law
• the hostages were set free

adjust (a clock or watch), typically to show the right time

adjust clock or watch

• set your watch immediately to local time at your destination
• to revert to an old style would be to try to set back the clock and deny the progress which had been made

harden into a solid or semi-solid state

harden into solid or semi-solid state

• cook for a further thirty-five minutes until the filling has set

(of the sun, moon, or another celestial body) appear to move towards and below the earth's horizon as the earth rotates

(of sun, moon, or another celestial body) appear to move towards and below earth's horizon as earth rotates

• the sun was setting and a warm red glow filled the sky

(of a tide or current) take or have a specified direction or course

(of tide or current) take or have specified direction or course

• a fair tide can be carried well past Land's End before the stream sets to the north

start (a fire)

start

• the school had been broken into and the fire had been set

(of blossom or a tree) form into or produce (fruit)

(of blossom or tree) form into or produce

• wait until first flowers have set fruit before planting out the peppers

sit

sit

• the rest of them people just set there goggle-eyed for a minute