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set

set

40 7.0
A temporary mental state that changes how someone behaves
  • noun
  • /sɛt/
  • Specialized
: disposición
  • Therefore, institutions are thought to operate under a set of rational procedures (Scott, 2001).
  • response set

Examples

  • The assessment program is keyed to a set of goals and objectives adopted by the school board.

    Academic text (1992)
  • After years of therapy, she finally achieved a healthier mental set regarding her challenges.

  • Every choice has a set of consequences, right?

  • Each with its own set of behaviors.

  • Ascertaining the nature of the goals set was difficult, as few studies provided details.

    Academic text (2015)
  • And we will close today a brief set of final reflections.

  • People who don't have a clear set of priorities.

  • In effect, meaning-making has been turned into a set of independent variables.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Finally, many members of Congress operate with a different set of assumptions when dealing with DoD.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Mature widows have an important set of daily responsibilities around which to structure their lives.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

tendency
vsset
206 2.8

A usual way of behaving, thinking, or changing

also covers momentary preparedness and mood states, not only likelihood
mindset
vsset
128 4.3

A usual way of thinking that affects how a person acts

is wider, covering moods and readiness beyond thinking patterns
readiness
vsset
62 2.7

Willing and prepared to do something

also includes longer term mood and inclination, not only willingness
disposition
vsset
53 4.6

A person's usual mood or natural way of behaving

is broader, covering readiness and simple tendencies beyond mood
propensity
vsset
32 7.3

A natural tendency to behave in a certain way

is the wider psychological state that includes such natural inclinations
bent
vsset
20 5.7

A natural liking or talent for something like music

is more general, covering mood and readiness rather than specific talent

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 Fixed

fixedness
1 7.8
set
  • Specialized
40 7.0
disposition
53 4.6
tendency
206 2.8
inclination
60 4.2

Surface Forms

set singular
sets plural

Etymology

Set (a mental or response tendency) comes from the idea of being fixed or prepared in a certain way, so a 'set' is a ready state of mind or habit. That's why a mental set can make you see or do things in a usual way.