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set

set

23 3.4
The act of placing something in a particular position
  • noun
  • /sɛt/
translation icon : montaje
  • The gardener carefully arranged the flowers in a beautiful set on the table.
  • a set-up

Examples

  • Before the presentation began, she made sure to organize her notes into a logical set for easy reference.

  • He bought a new set of tools for his workshop to keep everything in its proper place.

  • And then we're going to remove that set, that first set of leaves.

  • So let's just write the solution set here as zero.

  • The table's only set for two.

  • So let's get the conference room set.

  • Now we're going to put the set screws in.

  • I was delighted, and after they got all set, I pushed the cable release and went back to my own photography.

    Academic text (2003)
  • He's got a timer set.

  • Clear the set.

Synonyms

arrangement
vsset
135 2.7

The way things are placed or organized in a place

centres on the act of putting or organizing rather than the final layout
107 4.8

How parts are arranged in something, like furniture or a machine

refers to the action of placing or arranging rather than the overall pattern
placement
vsset
62 3.5

Putting or arranging things in a particular place

emphasizes both putting and changing the overall state rather than only placing
setup
vsset
55 3.0

How things are arranged or planned so they work together

is the actual action of putting or organizing to create that arrangement
location
vsset
41 1.4

The act of putting something in a particular place

focuses more widely on arranging into position or state beyond the process
positioning
vsset
14 3.7

Putting something in a particular place to make it work or look better

is broader, covering placing or organizing into a state not only exact placement
emplacement
vsset
1 8.0

Putting something in a particular place for a specific purpose

covers general putting or organizing, not only purpose-specific placement
locating
vsset
3.2

Putting something in a particular place or position

includes deliberate organizing into a state as well as simple placing
setout
vsset
4.4

A neat arrangement of items for display or easy use

is the act of putting or ordering items, not only their displayed form
set-out
vsset
  • Specialized
7.0

The marking of exact positions on the ground for building work

is a general act of placing or organizing objects, not only marking positions

Antonyms

110 2.7

To make people or animals move quickly in different directions

To make something messy or not in the right order

Idioms

all set
  • Informal
170 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
10 3.9

Not able to be changed

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

set for life
  • Informal
8 4.2

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

4 7.1

To have a big success that many people notice

4 7.2

Not willing to change habits or the way they do things

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

1 3.9

Make a high goal for others to reach

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

to sun set on
  • Informal
1 6.8

To show that a time or relationship has ended

1 6.0

To make someone feel very excited, often suddenly

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

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

Compounds

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

43 1.0

A machine with a screen that shows moving pictures and sound

11 1.0

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

set of wheels
  • Informal
8 5.0

A car or other vehicle someone owns

6 1.4

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

5 2.5

A board and 32 pieces used to play chess

3 2.4

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

3 3.6

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

2 4.9

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

2 5.1

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

2 2.1

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

radio set
  • Archaic
2 2.3

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

1 2.1

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

1 6.8

A group of rich fashionable people who often travel for pleasure

set decoration
  • Specialized
1 3.7

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

1 6.8

A single item of stage scenery like a painted tree

set theory
  • Specialized
1 7.6

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

1 4.9

Kept in advance for a particular use or person

1 1.0

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

1 1.2

A toy with small trains and tracks to play with

set-to
  • UK
1 8.2

A short argument or small fight that is often noisy

character set
  • Specialized
1 4.1

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

1 5.1

Placed very near each other, often for eyes or teeth

Mandelbrot set
  • Specialized
1 9.9

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

1 4.4

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

1 1.3

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

1 8.5

People who love horses and take part in riding or racing

1 7.4

A rich, glamorous life with frequent travel to fashionable places

null set
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A set that has no members

receiving set
  • Archaic
1 6.1

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

train set
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A group of example data used to teach a computer program

1 3.7

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

1 3.9

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

1 6.7

Feeling separate from other people or different from them

smart set
  • Specialized
1 3.8

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

smart set
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A group of fashionable people in high society

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

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

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

crystal set
  • Archaic
8.9

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

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

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

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

ASCII character set
  • Specialized
5.2

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

A number of times you repeat one movement without rest

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

A small group of tools for caring for nails and hands

4.9

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

8.5

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

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

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

saw set
  • Specialized
9.6

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

3.7

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

A device for making and receiving phone calls

set chisel
  • Specialized
8.1

A narrow steel tool for cutting stone and bricks

set gun
  • NSFW
9.9

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

set phrase
  • Specialized
5.7

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

3.9

A tool to draw and check right angles

set-back
  • Specialized
8.3

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

set-out
  • Formal
4.4

A clear statement of facts, reasons or plans

set-out
  • Specialized
3.9

The arrangement of text and images on a page or screen

set-out
  • Specialized
7.0

The marking of exact positions on the ground for building work

universal set
  • Specialized
7.0

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

via ferrata set
  • Specialized
9.9

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

How Arranged

set
23 3.4
positioning
14 3.7

Surface Forms

set singular
sets plural

Etymology

Set (the act of placing or arranging) comes from the basic meaning of putting something in position or order, so a set is the action or result of arranging. This is why people talk about the 'set' of hair or the set of a tie as the arranged look.