to set
- verb
- /sɛt/
- It was a star sapphire ring with two diamonds set in an ornately carved gold band.
- set the edge
- set the razor
- set the knife
Examples
-
She skillfully set the razor to create a sharp edge for a clean shave.
-
You just let that set because it's going to give you a hard edge.
-
He picked it up and returned to the bull and set the edge of the blade to its neck.
Fiction book (1997) -
It was a gold teardrop earring, set with an aquamarine.
Fiction book (1993) -
In woodworking class, we learned how to set the blade to ensure it was sharp enough for precise cuts.
-
Before using the knife, make sure to set its edge properly to avoid any accidents.
Synonyms
To make the edge or tip of something thin and able to cut, like a knife
To give something a border or to make its side sharp
To sharpen a razor by rubbing it on a leather band
To rub a blade on leather to make its edge smooth and sharp
Idioms
- Informal
To begin working very hard and not give up on a difficult task
- Archaic
To cause great excitement or a big effect, often said to mean something is not impressive
Phrasal Verbs
To let a person or animal go after keeping them in a place where they could not leave
- Informal
To make a place feel a certain way with lights, music, or decorations
- Informal
To make someone look guilty for something they did not do by tricking other people
- Specialized
To create a fake target to attract and find people who attack or steal data
To put temporary barriers on a road to slow or send traffic another way
Compounds
- Specialized
A group of letters, numbers, and symbols used for writing and showing text
- Specialized
A set of complex numbers that makes a very detailed, repeating shape when drawn on a graph
- Archaic
A machine like a radio that receives and makes broadcast signals stronger
A basketball move in which a player stands still and uses both hands to put the ball in the basket
- Specialized
A group of connected home devices like lights or speakers you control together
- Specialized
A computer design where the main processor runs many built-in instructions
- Specialized
A computer design where the processor runs many complex commands directly in hardware
- Archaic
A simple early radio that uses a crystal to receive signals without a battery
- Specialized
A set of 128 basic computer characters for letters, numbers, symbols, and control codes
A set of matching furniture for a room where people sit and relax, like a sofa and chairs
- UK
A toy with metal strips, plates, and wheels you join with nuts and bolts to build moving models
- Specialized
A computer design that uses a small set of simple commands to work faster
- Specialized
A computer design using a small set of simple instructions for faster processors that use less power
- Specialized
A fixed group of words that mean something different from the words alone
- Specialized
All the things we consider in a math problem, including every smaller group
- Specialized
Climbing gear that has a safety strap and two metal clips for via ferrata routes
How Sharp
Surface Forms
Etymology
Set (to give a sharp edge to a blade) comes from the idea of making or fixing the blade in the right position or shape so it cuts well. A barber or chef who sets a blade is making the edge ready and fixed for use.