Skip to main content
set

set

134 3.4
A machine like a television or radio
  • noun
  • /sɛt/
  • Archaic
: televisor
  • No, no, no, don't touch that television set.
  • television set
  • TV set
  • TV set and VCR

For our example, we're going to use an Android set-top box like the NVIDIA Shield.

Examples

  • Between 1956 and 1960, homes with television sets grew by 25 percent.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Edward did not own a television set and never turned on his radio.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Can he come through the television set and and touch them some way?

  • Over time, older construction equipment was removed, and a TV news set and green screen area were built.

    Academic text (2008)
  • What's the matter with his TV set anyway?

  • Please direct your attention to the television set in front of you, Mr. Renn.

  • We see Marty and Henry standing near a television set; the commercial is repeated over and over.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Sarah crouched in front of the set and gripped it with her hands.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The TV turns on, set to alarm CNBC or Bloomberg.

  • Many families prefer to watch movies on their large television set in the living room.

Synonyms

tv
vsset
864 1.0

A screen device you use at home to watch shows and films

is the neutral umbrella term for various broadcast receiving devices
radio
vsset
495 1.0

A small machine that plays music and news sent through the air

is the more general category that covers various broadcast receivers
television
vsset
258 1.0

An electronic device with a screen that receives broadcasts and shows moving pictures and sound

is the more general phrase for electronic receiving devices
receiver
vsset
77 3.4

A device that picks up signals, for example a radio or television

is the broader everyday term covering several specific receivers
53 1.4

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

is a general term for electronic devices that receive broadcasts
tv set
vsset
46 1.0

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

is the broader name for that specific type of receiving device
tele
vsset
  • UK
7 8.1

A television set for watching shows

is the standard, more neutral way to name such devices
radio set
vsset
  • Archaic
2 2.3

A machine that receives broadcasts through the air and plays them as sound

is the general term that also includes picture receiving devices
1 2.4

A machine that receives TV signals and shows them on a screen

is the everyday label that covers this and other receivers
receiving set
vsset
  • Archaic
1 6.1

A machine like a radio that receives and makes broadcast signals stronger

is the simpler common term rather than a technical label

Idioms

all set
  • Informal
209 1.6

Completely ready to begin

Give the true facts to fix a wrong idea

dead set
  • Informal
18 6.5

Firmly decided to do something or strongly against doing it

set in stone
  • Informal
12 3.9

Not able to be changed

set for life
  • Informal
10 4.2

Enough money to live without working for the rest of your life

9 3.9

Make a high goal for others to reach

dead set on
  • Informal
9 4.8

Want something very much and do not change their mind

dead set against
  • Informal
8 6.8

Being completely against an idea or plan

8 7.1

To have a big success that many people notice

to sun set on
  • Informal
8 6.8

To show that a time or relationship has ended

Start a series of actions that lead to later changes

to grow a set
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To become more brave and confident when facing problems

1 6.0

To make someone feel very excited, often suddenly

1 7.2

Not willing to change habits or the way they do things

To cause great excitement or a big effect, often said to mean something is not impressive

9.6

To make people argue or fight

To step onto solid ground after being on a boat or in a plane

9.9

To try to get someone to marry you

To arrive so regularly that people can tell the time by your arrival

To begin working very hard and not give up on a difficult task

Compounds

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

46 1.0

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

16 1.0

A frame with seats hanging by chains or ropes for children to swing back and forth

10 1.2

A toy with small trains and tracks to play with

8 1.4

A matching set of cups, saucers, and a teapot used to serve tea

set of wheels
  • Informal
8 5.0

A car or other vehicle someone owns

8 2.5

A board and 32 pieces used to play chess

7 6.8

A group of rich fashionable people who often travel for pleasure

7 5.1

A long planned sequence in a film or game that shows big action

4 2.4

A matching group of furniture for a bedroom like a bed and dresser

4 3.6

The background and objects on a stage that show where and when a play happens

3 6.8

A single item of stage scenery like a painted tree

3 2.1

A matching table with chairs used for eating in a dining room

3 4.9

An eye set far back in the head that makes the eye area look deep and dark

3 6.7

Feeling separate from other people or different from them

radio set
  • Archaic
2 2.3

A machine that receives broadcasts through the air and plays them as sound

2 1.0

A box of small plastic bricks and parts for building models like cars or houses

set theory
  • Specialized
2 7.6

The study of sets, groups of things, and how they relate

2 4.9

Kept in advance for a particular use or person

set decoration
  • Specialized
2 3.7

Objects and items used to make a film or play scene look real

1 2.1

A group of matching furniture for a living room like a sofa and chairs

1 4.4

A moment when a player needs one more point to win the set

1 5.1

Placed very near each other, often for eyes or teeth

character set
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A group of letters, numbers, and symbols used for writing and showing text

1 1.3

A matching set of plates, bowls, and cups for serving dinner

set-to
  • UK
1 8.2

A short argument or small fight that is often noisy

Mandelbrot set
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A set of complex numbers that makes a very detailed, repeating shape when drawn on a graph

smart set
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A group of fashionable people in high society

1 3.7

A group of swing jazz songs played together to make people dance

crystal set
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A simple early radio that uses a crystal to receive signals without a battery

A set of matching furniture for a dining room, usually a table and chairs

train set
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A group of example data used to teach a computer program

1 7.4

A rich, glamorous life with frequent travel to fashionable places

1 3.5

A number of times you repeat one movement without rest

universal set
  • Specialized
1 7.0

All the things we consider in a math problem, including every smaller group

null set
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A set that has no members

1 8.5

People who love horses and take part in riding or racing

1 3.9

A basketball move in which a player stands still and uses both hands to put the ball in the basket

set phrase
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A fixed group of words that mean something different from the words alone

smart set
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A group of connected home devices like lights or speakers you control together

receiving set
  • Archaic
1 6.1

A machine like a radio that receives and makes broadcast signals stronger

1 3.7

A group of connected tubes that carry water or gas through a building

A device for making and receiving phone calls

1 2.5

A small group of tools for caring for nails and hands

A computer design using a small set of simple instructions for faster processors that use less power

ASCII character set
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A set of 128 basic computer characters for letters, numbers, symbols, and control codes

1 8.5

A group of people who like horses, especially riding and racing

Eyebrows that sit back above the eyes and make the face look intense

set-out
  • Specialized
1 7.0

The marking of exact positions on the ground for building work

A computer design that uses a small set of simple commands to work faster

set-back
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A part of a building where the wall becomes narrower in steps

set chisel
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A narrow steel tool for cutting stone and bricks

1 3.9

A tool to draw and check right angles

A computer design where the processor runs many complex commands directly in hardware

set-out
  • Formal
1 4.4

A clear statement of facts, reasons or plans

set-out
  • Specialized
1 3.9

The arrangement of text and images on a page or screen

1 4.9

A toy with metal strips, plates, and wheels you join with nuts and bolts to build moving models

A computer design where the main processor runs many built-in instructions

saw set
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A small tool that bends every other tooth of a saw blade outward

set gun
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A hidden gun that fires as a trap when someone trips a wire

A set of decorative coasters used to protect surfaces from drink stains

A set of drum pads and an electronic sound unit played like a drum kit

friendly set-to
  • Archaic
5.9

A short, mild argument between people who are not angry

A set of matching furniture for a room where people sit and relax, like a sofa and chairs

via ferrata set
  • Specialized
9.9

Climbing gear that has a safety strap and two metal clips for via ferrata routes

How Complex

audio system
4 3.4
stereo
133 1.8
set
  • Archaic
134 3.4
television
258 1.0
radio
495 1.0

Surface Forms

set singular
sets plural

Etymology

Set (an electronic device) comes from the idea of parts put together as one unit, so a radio or television is a 'set' of parts working together. This helps you remember a TV set is the whole machine.