set (n.)

  1. a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used; a set of books; a set of golf clubs; a set of teeth'

  2. evil Egyptian god with the head of a beast that has high square ears and a long snout; brother and murderer of Osiris

    [ Syn: set , seth ]

  3. the descent of a heavenly body below the horizon; before the set of sun'

  4. (psychology) being temporarily ready to respond in a particular way; the subjects set led them to solve problems the familiar way and to overlook the simpler solution; his instructions deliberately gave them the wrong set

    [ Syn: readiness ]

  5. any electronic equipment that receives or transmits radio or tv signals; the early sets ran on storage batteries'

  6. (mathematics) an abstract collection of numbers or symbols; the set of prime numbers is infinite'

  7. several exercises intended to be done in series; he did four sets of the incline bench press

    [ Syn: exercise set ]

  8. representation consisting of the scenery and other properties used to identify the location of a dramatic production; the sets were meticulously authentic

    [ Syn: stage set ]

  9. an unofficial association of people or groups; the smart set goes there; they were an angry lot

    [ Syn: circle , band , lot ]

  10. a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way; the set of his mind was obvious

    [ Syn: bent ]

  11. the act of putting something in position; he gave a final set to his hat'

  12. a unit of play in tennis or squash; they played two sets of tennis after dinner'

  13. the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization; the hardening of concrete; he tested the set of the glue

    [ Syn: hardening , solidifying , solidification , curing ]

    set (adj.)

  1. (usually followed by `to or `for) on the point of or strongly disposed; in no fit state to continue; fit to drop; laughing fit to burst; she was fit to scream; primed for a fight; we are set to go at any time

    [ Syn: fit , primed ]

  2. fixed and unmoving; with eyes set in a fixed glassy stare; his bearded face already has a set hollow look- Connor Cruise OBrien; a face rigid with pain

    [ Syn: fixed , rigid ]

  3. situated in a particular spot or position; valuable centrally located urban land; strategically placed artillery; a house set on a hilltop; nicely situated on a quiet riverbank

    [ Syn: located , placed , situated ]

  4. set down according to a plan:a carefully laid table with places set for four people; stones laid in a pattern

    [ Syn: laid ]

  5. being below the horizon; the moon is set'

  6. determined or decided upon as by an authority; date and place are already determined; the dictated terms of surrender; the time set for the launching

    [ Syn: determined , dictated ]

  7. converted to solid form (as concrete)

    [ Syn: hardened ]

    set (v.)

  1. put into a certain place or abstract location; Put your things here; Set the tray down; Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children; Place emphasis on a certain point

    [ Syn: put , place , pose , position , lay ]

  2. disappear beyond the horizon; the sun sets early these days

    [ Syn: go down , go under ]

  3. adapt for performance in a different way; set this poem to music

    [ Syn: arrange ]

  4. put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground; Lets plant flowers in the garden

    [ Syn: plant ]

  5. apply or start; set fire to a building'

  6. become gelatinous; the liquid jelled after we added the enzyme

    [ Syn: jell , congeal ]

  7. set in type; My book will be typeset nicely; set these words in italics

    [ Syn: typeset ]

  8. put into a position that will restore a normal state; set a broken bone'

  9. insert (a nail or screw below the surface, as into a countersink)

    [ Syn: countersink ]

  10. give a fine, sharp edge to a knife or razor

  11. urge to attack someone; The owner sicked his dogs on the intruders; the shaman sics sorcerers on the evil spirits

    [ Syn: sic ]

  12. fix conclusively or authoritatively; set the rules

    [ Syn: determine ]

  13. estimate; We put the time of arrival at 8 P.M.

    [ Syn: place , put ]

  14. equip with sails or masts; rig a ship

    [ Syn: rig , set up ]

  15. get ready for a particular purpose or event; set up an experiment; set the table; lay out the tools for the surgery

    [ Syn: set up , lay out ]

  16. alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; Adjust the clock, please; correct the alignment of the front wheels

    [ Syn: adjust , correct ]

  17. bear fruit; the apple trees fructify

    [ Syn: fructify ]

  18. arrange attractively; dress my hair for the wedding

    [ Syn: dress , arrange , do , coif , coiffe , coiffure ]

  19. decide upon or fix definitely; fix the variables; specify the parameters

    [ Syn: specify , determine , define , fix , limit ]

  20. establish as the highest level or best performance; set a record

    [ Syn: mark ]

  21. put into a certain state; cause to be in a certain state; set the house afire'

  22. fix in a border; The goldsmith set the diamond'

  23. make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc; Get the children ready for school!; prepare for war; I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill

    [ Syn: fix , prepare , set up , ready , gear up ]

  24. set to a certain position or cause to operate correctly; set clocks or instruments'

  25. locate; The film is set in Africa

    [ Syn: localize , localise , place ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.