English Online Dictionary. What means set? What does set mean?
English
Pronunciation
- enPR: sĕt, IPA(key): /sɛt/
- Homophone: sett
- Rhymes: -ɛt
Etymology 1
From Middle English setten, from Old English settan, from Proto-West Germanic *sattjan, from Proto-Germanic *satjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sodéyeti, causative of *sed- (“to sit”).
Verb
set (third-person singular simple present sets, present participle setting, simple past set, past participle set or (dialectal) setten)
- (transitive) To put (something) down, to rest.
- Synonyms: put, lay, set down
- Antonym: pick up
- (transitive) To attach or affix (something) to something else, or in or upon a certain place.
- (transitive) To put in a specified condition or state; to cause to be.
- (transitive) To start (a fire).
- Synonym: light
- Antonyms: extinguish, put out, quench
- (transitive, dated) To cause to stop or stick; to obstruct; to fasten to a spot.
- (transitive) To determine or settle.
- (transitive) To adjust.
- (i.e. I programmed it at that hour to go off at a later time)
- (i.e. I programmed it earlier to go off at that hour.)
- (transitive) To punch (a nail) into wood so that its head is below the surface.
- (transitive) To arrange with dishes and cutlery, to set the table.
- (transitive) To introduce or describe.
- (transitive) To locate (a play, etc.); to assign a backdrop to, geographically or temporally.
- (transitive) To compile, to make (a puzzle or challenge).
- (transitive) To prepare (a stage or film set).
- (transitive) To fit (someone) up in a situation.
- (transitive) To arrange (type).
- Synonym: typeset
- (transitive) To devise and assign (work) to.
- (transitive, volleyball) To direct (the ball) to a teammate for an attack.
- (intransitive) To solidify.
- (transitive) To render stiff or solid; especially, to convert into curd; to curdle.
- (intransitive) Of a heavenly body, to disappear below the horizon of a planet, etc, as the latter rotates.
- (transitive, bridge) To defeat a contract.
- (obsolete, now followed by "out", as in set out) To begin to move; to go forth.
- (transitive, botany) To produce after pollination.
- (intransitive, of fruit) To be fixed for growth; to strike root; to begin to germinate or form.
- (intransitive, Southern US, Midwestern US, dialects) To sit (be in a seated position).
- (intransitive, Southern US, Midwestern US, dialects) To rest or lie somewhere, on something, etc.; to occupy a certain place.
- To hunt game with the aid of a setter.
- (hunting, ambitransitive) Of a dog, to indicate the position of game.
- To apply oneself; to undertake earnestly.
- (ambitransitive) To fit music to words.
- (ambitransitive) To place plants or shoots in the ground; to plant.
- To become fixed or rigid; to be fastened.
- To have a certain direction of motion; to flow; to move on; to tend.
- (intransitive, country dancing) To acknowledge a dancing partner by facing him or her and moving first to one side and then to the other, while she or he does the opposite.
- To place or fix in a setting.
- To put in order in a particular manner; to prepare.
- To extend and bring into position; to spread.
- To give a pitch to, as a tune; to start by fixing the keynote.
- To reduce from a dislocated or fractured state.
- (intransitive, now dialectal) To sit or lie (easily etc.) on the stomach; to be digested in a certain manner.
- (masonry) To lower into place and fix solidly, as the blocks of cut stone in a structure.
- (obsolete) To wager in gambling; to risk.
- To adorn with something infixed or affixed; to stud; to variegate with objects placed here and there.
- (obsolete) To value; to rate; used with at.
- To establish as a rule; to furnish; to prescribe; to assign.
- (Scotland) To suit; to become.
- To cause (a domestic fowl) to sit on eggs to brood.
- To set a hen.
- Repeating, or redoing, a specific exercise move without any breaks.
- You need to do this for 10 sets
Usage notes
Originally, set specifically served as the causative of sit, and this relationship is still reflected in several of the above senses. However, as with many such pairs, the correspondence has mostly deteriorated, with new senses of sit no longer being accompanied with a like sense of set; notably, there are now transitive senses of sit and intransitive senses of set. Compare rise and raise, whose senses are almost all intransitive and transitive counterparts, respectively.
Synonyms
- (of heavenly bodies, to disappear below the horizon): go down, go west
Derived terms
Descendants
- → Japanese: セット (setto)
- → Hokkien: siat-to͘h
Translations
Etymology 2
From Middle English set, sette, from Old English set (“seat, place of residence, camp, settlement, entrenchment, stable, pen”), from Proto-West Germanic *set (“seat”), from Proto-Germanic *setą (“seat”).
Noun
set (plural sets)
- A punch for setting nails in wood.
- A device for receiving broadcast radio waves (or, more recently, broadcast data); a radio or television.
- Alternative form of sett (“a hole made and lived in by a badger”)
- Alternative form of sett (“pattern of threads and yarns”)
- Alternative form of sett (“piece of quarried stone”)
- (horticulture) A small tuber or bulb used instead of seed, particularly onion sets and potato sets.
- The amount by which the teeth of a saw protrude to the side in order to create the kerf.
- (engineering) A permanent change of shape caused by excessive strain, as from compression, tension, bending, twisting, etc.
- A bias of mind; an attitude or pattern of behaviour.
- (piledriving) A piece placed temporarily upon the head of a pile when the latter cannot otherwise be reached by the weight, or hammer.
- (printing, dated) The width of the body of a type.
- A young oyster when first attached.
- Collectively, the crop of young oysters in any locality.
- A series or group of something. (Note the similar meaning in Etymology 4, Noun)
- (colloquial) The manner, state, or quality of setting or fitting; fit.
- The pattern of a tartan, etc.
- The camber of a curved roofing tile.
- The full number of eggs set under a hen.
- (obsolete, rare) That which is staked; a wager; hence, a gambling game.
Derived terms
Translations
Etymology 3
From Middle English sett, from Old English ġesett, past participle of settan.
Adjective
set (comparative more set, superlative most set)
- Fixed in position.
- Rigid, solidified.
- Ready, prepared.
- Intent, determined (to do something).
- Prearranged.
- a set menu ― a meal that is instituted by a restaurateur for a limited occasion
- a set book ― a required reading for a course in an educational institution
- Fixed in one’s opinion.
- (of hair) Fixed in a certain style.
Synonyms
- (intent, determined): determined, intent
- (prearranged): dictated, prearranged, predetermined, prescribed, specified
- (fixed in one's opinion): fixed, rigid
Derived terms
Translations
Etymology 4
From Middle English set, sete, sette (“that which is set, the act of setting, seat”), from Old English set (“setting, seat, a place where people remain, habitation, camp, entrenchment, a place where animals are kept, stall, fold”) and Old English seten (“a set, shoot, slip, branch; a nursery, plantation; that which is planted or set; a cultivated place; planting, cultivation; a setting, putting; a stopping; occupied land”), related to Old English settan (“to set”). Compare Middle Low German gesette (“a set, suite”), Old English gesetl (“assembly”). According to Skeat, in senses denoting a group of things or persons, representing an alteration of sept, from Old French sette (“a religious sect”), from Medieval Latin secta (“retinue”), from Latin secta (“a faction”). See sect. It is quite possible that the modern word is more of a merger between both, however.
Noun
set (plural sets)
- A young plant fit for setting out; a slip; shoot.
- A rudimentary fruit.
- The setting of the sun or other luminary; (by extension) the close of the day.
- (literally and figuratively) General movement; direction; drift; tendency.
- A matching collection of similar things. (Note the similar meaning in Etymology 2, Noun.)
- A collection of various objects for a particular purpose.
- An object made up of several parts.
- (set theory) A collection of zero or more objects, possibly infinite in size, and disregarding any order or repetition of the objects which may be contained within it.
- (in plural, “sets”, mathematics, informal) Set theory.
- A group of people, usually meeting socially.
- The scenery for a film or play.
- the general locations and area where a movie’s, a film’s, or a video’s scenery is arranged to be filmed also including places for actors, assorted crew, director, producers which are typically not filmed.
- (dance) The initial or basic formation of dancers.
- (exercise) A group of repetitions of a single exercise performed one after the other without rest.
- Meronym: reps
- (tennis) A complete series of games, forming part of a match.
- (volleyball) A complete series of points, forming part of a match.
- (volleyball) The act of directing the ball to a teammate for an attack.
- (music) A musical performance by a band, disc jockey, etc., consisting of several musical pieces.
- (music) A drum kit, a drum set.
- (UK, education) A class group in a subject where pupils are divided by ability.
- (poker, slang) Three of a kind, especially if two cards are in one's hand and the third is on the board. Compare trips (“three of a kind, especially with two cards on the board and one in one's hand”).
Synonyms
- (close of the day): dusk, eve, evening, sundown, sunset
- (general movement): direction, drift, heading, motion, movement, path, tendency, trend
- (matching collection of similar things): suite
- (set theory, in plural): set theory
- (group of people, usually meeting socially): club, coterie
- (scenery): scenery
- (performance of several musical pieces): gig, session
- (drum kit): drums, drum kit, drum set
- (three of a kind): three of a kind
Derived terms
Translations
See also
Etymology 5
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Verb
set (third-person singular simple present sets, present participle setting, simple past and past participle setted)
- (UK, education) To divide a class group in a subject according to ability
References
Anagrams
- Tse, StE, tes, -est, TSE, est, Est., ETS, STE, est., tse, ETs, TEs, Ste, EST, Ste., Est
Afrikaans
Pronunciation
Noun
set (plural [please provide])
- The name of the Latin-script letter Z/z.
Aragonese
Etymology
From Latin sitis.
Noun
set f
- thirst
Catalan
Etymology 1
Inherited from Latin septem (“seven”), from Proto-Indo-European *septḿ̥. Cognates include Occitan sèt.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): (Central, Balearic, Valencia) [ˈsɛt]
- Rhymes: -ɛt
Numeral
set m or f
- (cardinal number) seven
Noun
set m (plural sets)
- seven
Derived terms
- set pecats capitals
Etymology 2
Inherited from Latin sitis, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰgʷʰítis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): (Central) [ˈsɛt]
- IPA(key): (Balearic) [ˈsət]
- IPA(key): (Valencia) [ˈset]
Noun
set f (plural sets)
- thirst
- hunger (strong desire)
Derived terms
- assedegar
- sedegar
- sedejar
Further reading
- “set” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “set”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
- “set” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
- “set” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
Chinese
Etymology
From English set.
Pronunciation
Noun
set
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) package or collection of items (Classifier: 個/个 c)
Verb
set
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) to set; to adjust
- set鬧鐘/set闹钟 [Cantonese] ― set1 naau6 zung1 [Jyutping] ― to set the alarm
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) to set; to prepare
- set場/set场 [Cantonese] ― set1 coeng4 [Jyutping] ― to prepare and decorate a venue
Derived terms
Classifier
set
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) Classifier for packages or collections of items.
See also
- 恤髮 / 恤发 (seot1 faat3)
References
- English Loanwords in Hong Kong Cantonese
Crimean Tatar
Noun
set
- sofa, couch, settee
Czech
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈsɛt]
- Homophone: sed
- Rhymes: -ɛt
Etymology 1
Derived from English set.
Noun
set m inan
- (tennis, volleyball) set (part of a match in sports like tennis and volleyball)
- Synonym: sada
Declension
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Noun
set n
- genitive plural of sto
Etymology 3
Participle
set
- masculine singular passive participle of sít
Further reading
- “set”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
- “set”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
Danish
Verb
set
- past participle of se
Derived terms
- sådan set
Dutch
Etymology
Borrowed from English set.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɛt/
- Hyphenation: set
- Rhymes: -ɛt
- Homophone: Seth
Noun
set m (plural sets, diminutive setje n)
- a set (collection of objects belonging together)
- a set (installation consisting of multiple appliances)
- (tennis) a set (tennis match)
- a film set (filming location)
- Synonym: filmset
Derived terms
- jetset
- kledingset
- loungeset
- pannenset
- setpoint
- stereoset
Eastern Durango Nahuatl
Noun
set
- ice
French
Etymology
Borrowed from English set [from 1833].
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɛt/
- Homophones: cet, cette, sept, Sète
- Rhymes: -ɛt
Noun
set m (plural sets)
- (tennis) set
- Synonym: manche
Derived terms
- balle de set (set point)
Further reading
- “set”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
- est, Ste., tes
Icelandic
Etymology
From Old Norse set, from Proto-Germanic *setą. Compare the English seat.
Noun
set n (genitive singular sets, nominative plural set)
- seat, a place to sit
Declension
Indonesian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈsɛt]
- Hyphenation: sèt
Etymology 1
From Dutch set, from English set, alteration of sept, from Old French sette (“a religious sect”), from Medieval Latin secta (“retinue”), from Latin secta (“a faction”).
Noun
sèt (plural set-set)
- (sports) set, group of games counting as a unit toward a match.
- Synonym: babak
- set:
- Synonyms: perangkat, setel
- a matching collection of similar things.
- a collection of various objects for a particular purpose.
- set, an object made up of several parts.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From English set, from Middle English setten, from Old English settan, from Proto-Germanic *satjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sodéyeti, causative of *sed- (“to sit”).
Verb
sèt
- to set:
- Synonym: mengeset
- to put in a specified condition or state
- to adjust
- to prepare
- to arrange
Derived terms
Noun
set (plural set-set)
- (colloquial) trick; act; strategy
- Synonyms: muslihat, tindak, strategi
Further reading
- “set” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.
Italian
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from English set.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsɛt/
- Rhymes: -ɛt
- Hyphenation: sèt
Noun
set m (invariable)
- set (group of things in maths, tennis, cinema, etc.)
Anagrams
- 'ste, est
Ladin
Etymology
From Latin septem.
Adjective
set
- seven
Noun
set m (uncountable)
- seven
Latin
Etymology
Alternative spelling of sed. See aliquit#Etymology.
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /ˈset/, [ˈs̠ɛt̪]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈset/, [ˈsɛt̪]
Conjunction
set
- Alternative form of sed
Lombard
Alternative forms
- sett, sètt (Western orthographies)
- sèt (Eastern orthographies)
Etymology
From Latin septem.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /set/, [sɛt]
- IPA(key): /set/, [hɛt] (High Brescian and Bergamasque)
Numeral
set
- seven
Lower Sorbian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [sɛt]
Verb
set
- supine of seś
Mauritian Creole
Etymology
From French sept.
Numeral
set
- seven
Michif
Etymology
From French sept.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [sɛt]
Numeral
set
- seven
North Frisian
Alternative forms
- sat (Föhr-Amrum)
- sate (Mooring)
Etymology
From Old Frisian sitta, from Proto-West Germanic *sittjan.
Pronunciation
- (Sylt) IPA(key): [sɛt]
Verb
set
- (Sylt) to sit
Conjugation
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology 1
Verb
set
- present of setja and setta
- imperative of setja
Etymology 2
Participle
set
- (non-standard since 1938) past participle of sjå
Occitan
Etymology
From Latin sitis, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰgʷʰítis.
Pronunciation
Noun
set f or m (plural sets)
- thirst
Numeral
set (Limousin)
- seven
Alternative forms
- sèt
Derived terms
Further reading
- Joan de Cantalausa (2006) Diccionari general occitan a partir dels parlars lengadocians[4], 2 edition, →ISBN, page 910.
Old English
Etymology
Compare the verb settan. Compare Old Norse sæti, Old High German gesazi (German Gesäß), Middle Dutch gesaete, from Proto-Germanic *sētiją.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /set/
Noun
set n
- seat
Declension
Strong a-stem:
Related terms
- ġeset
Old French
Etymology 1
From Latin septem.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsɛt/
Numeral
set
- seven
Descendants
- Middle French: sept
- French: sept
- Norman: sept, saept (Guernsey)
- Walloon: set
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Verb
set
- third-person singular present indicative of savoir
Descendants
- French: sait
Old Norse
Verb
set
- inflection of setja:
- first-person singular present active indicative
- second-person singular active imperative
Papiamentu
Etymology
From Spanish sed and Portuguese sede and Kabuverdianu sedi.
Noun
set
- thirst
Piedmontese
Etymology
From Latin septem, from Proto-Italic *septem. Cognates include Italian sette and French sept.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɛt/
Numeral
set
- seven
Polish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsɛt/
- Rhymes: -ɛt
- Syllabification: set
- Homophone: Set
Etymology 1
Borrowed from English set.
Noun
set m animal or m inan (related adjective setowy)
- (badminton, tennis, volleyball) set (complete series of games, forming part of a match)
Declension
Related terms
Noun
set m inan (related adjective setowy)
- (colloquial, music) set (set of songs performed during a concert of popular music)
Declension
Noun
set m animal
- (card games) Set (real-time card game designed by Marsha Falco in 1974 and published by Set Enterprises in 1991)
Declension
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Noun
set f
- genitive plural of seta
Further reading
- set in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- set in Polish dictionaries at PWN
- set in PWN's encyclopedia
Portuguese
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from English set.
Pronunciation
- Homophone: sete
Noun
set m (plural sets)
- set (group of things in maths, tennis, cinema, etc.)
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from English set or French set.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /set/
Noun
set n (plural seturi)
- (tennis) set
- set (of objects)
Declension
Romansch
Etymology 1
From Latin septem, from Proto-Indo-European *septḿ̥.
Number
set
- (Rumantsch Grischun, Surmiran, Puter, Vallader) seven
Alternative forms
- siat (Sursilvan)
- seat (Sutsilvan)
Etymology 2
From Latin sitis, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰgʷʰítis (“perishing, decrease”).
Noun
set f
- (Sutsilvan) thirst
Alternative forms
- said (Rumantsch Grischun, Puter, Vallader)
- seit (Sursilvan)
- seid (Surmiran)
Spanish
Etymology
Borrowed from English set.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈset/ [ˈset̪]
- Rhymes: -et
- Syllabification: set
Noun
set m (plural sets)
- (tennis) set
- set or series of things (such as crockery, cutlery, tools, instruments, etc.)
Further reading
- “set”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10
Swedish
Etymology
Borrowed from English set.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɛtː/
- Homophones: sett, sätt
Noun
set n
- a set (matching collection of items)
- a set (in for example tennis)
- a set (musical performance)
Declension
See also
- sett
- sätt
- tågsätt
References
- set in Svensk ordbok (SO)
- set in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
- set in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
Anagrams
- est, tes
Walloon
Etymology
From Latin septem, from Proto-Indo-European *septḿ̥.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɛt/
Numeral
set
- seven
Welsh
Etymology 1
Verb
set (not mutable)
- Contraction of baset.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from English set.
Noun
set f (plural setiau, not mutable)
- set
Derived terms
- is-set (“subset”)
Mutation
Further reading
- Delyth Prys, J.P.M. Jones, Owain Davies, Gruffudd Prys (2006) Y Termiadur: termau wedi'u safoni; standardised terminology[5] (in Welsh), Cardiff: Awdurdod cymwysterau, cwricwlwm ac asesu Cymru (Qualifications curriculum & assessment authority for Wales), →ISBN
Yola
Noun
set
- Alternative form of zet
References
- Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 47