setˈ-aside noun

(also land set-aside) the practice or policy of taking agricultural land out of production (set-aside scheme specif that introduced to reduce EU grain surpluses, with compensatory payments to farmers)

setˈback noun

1. A check, reverse, or relapse
2. A disappointment or misfortune
3. A receding section in the upper part of a tall building

set dancing noun

A traditional form of Irish dancing, usu involving a group of four couples in a square formation

setˈ-down noun

1. A rebuff or snub
2. A scolding

setˈline noun

Any of various kinds of fishing-line suspended between buoys, etc, and having shorter baited lines attached to it

set menu noun

A complete meal with limited options offered by a restaurant at a fixed price

setˈ-off noun

1. A claim set against another
2. A crossclaim which partly offsets the original claim
3. A counterbalance
4. An ornament
5. A contrast, foil
6. A setting forth
7. An offset (architecture and printing)

setˈ-out noun

1. An outfit
2. Preparations
3. A display of dishes, dress, etc
4. Company or clique

set piece noun

1. A piece of theatrical scenery with a supporting framework, distinguished from a side-scene or drop-scene
2. An elaborately arranged display in fireworks
3. A painstakingly prepared performance
4. (a carefully planned and executed piece of team-work at) a corner or free kick (football, etc)

setˈ-piece adjective

set point noun (tennis, etc)

A point which wins a set

set pot noun

A fixed boiler or copper

setˈscrew noun

A screw used to prevent relative motion by exerting pressure with its point

set speech noun

A studied oration

set square noun

A right-angled triangular drawing instrument

setˈ-stitch'd adjective (Sterne)

Perh embroidered

setter-forthˈ noun

set terms plural noun

Deliberately chosen, usu outspoken language

setter-offˈ noun

setter-onˈ noun

setter-outˈ noun

setter-upˈ noun

set theory noun (mathematics)

The investigation of the properties of sets

setting lotion noun

A lotion containing gum or resin used to fix or set a hairstyle

set-toˈ noun (pl set-tosˈ or set-to'sˈ)

1. A bout
2. A fight or argument
3. A fierce contest

setˈ-topˈ box noun

A device that allows a conventional television set to receive a digital signal

setˈ-up noun

1. The arrangement, organization, configuration or structure of anything
2. The place where an instrument for measuring, surveying, recording, etc is set up
3. A situation, the outcome of which has been prearranged, eg one in which someone is made a victim (informal)
4. A shot, forming part of a scene, consisting of part of the action, close-up or location, etc (film)
5. Bodily carriage and physique. See also set up below

dead set

1. Determined (on)
2. Indisputable (Aust sl)

set about

1. To begin, take in hand
2. To attack
3. To spread (rumours)

set against

1. To assail
2. To compare or balance

set (a game) to two, three or five (badminton)

To set, in the final stages of a game, a new deciding score of two, three, or five points

set alight, set light to, set fire to or set on fire

To cause to break into flame and burn

set apart

1. To put aside, or out of consideration
2. To separate, distinguish

set aside

1. To put away or to one side
2. To reject, annul
3. To reserve, lay by
4. To take (agricultural land) out of production, to leave fallow

set at naught see under naught

set back

1. To check, delay, hinder, reverse
2. To cost (in money; informal)
3. To place at some distance behind
4. To surprise, take aback

set by

1. To lay up
2. To put aside
3. To value or esteem, to care (archaic)

set down

1. To lay on the ground
2. To put in writing, record
3. To appoint a time for (Shakespeare)
4. To judge, esteem, regard
5. To snub
6. To pitch, encamp (Shakespeare)
7. To attribute, ascribe
8. To lay down authoritatively
9. To stop and allow (passengers) to alight from a taxi, bus, car, etc

set eyes on

To see, catch sight of

set fair

1. (of weather) steadily fair
2. (of future prospects, outlook, etc) settled and secure
3. Likely, to all appearances (to do the desired thing)

set fire to see set alight above.

set forth

1. To exhibit, display
2. To state, expound, declare
3. To praise, recommend
4. To publish
5. To start on a journey

set free

To release, liberate

set going

To put in motion

set hand to

To set to work on

set in

1. To begin
2. To become prevalent or established
3. (of wind, etc) to run landwards (nautical)

set in hand

1. To undertake
2. To set someone about doing

set little, much, etc, by

To regard or value little, much, etc

set off

1. To start off
2. To send off
3. To show in relief or to advantage
4. To counterbalance
5. To make an offset, mark an opposite page
6. To mark off, lay off

set on

1. To attack or incite to attack
2. To instigate
3. Bent or determined upon

set oneself

To bend one's energies

set oneself against

To oppose

set one's face against see under face

set one's hand to

1. To start work on, set about
2. To sign

set one's heart on see under heart

set one's teeth

To clench the teeth, as in strong resolution

set on fire see set alight above.

set on foot

To set going, to start

set out

1. To start, go forth
2. To display
3. To begin with an intention
4. To expound
5. To mark off
6. To adorn
7. To equip and send forth

set sail see under sail¹

set to

1. To affix
2. To apply oneself
3. To set (eg a bone) (Shakespeare)

set up

1. To erect
2. To put up
3. To exalt, raise up (set you, him etc up (Scot; ironic) what a cheek you've, he's, etc got!)
4. To arrange
5. To begin
6. To enable to begin
7. To place in view
8. To put in type
9. To begin a career, esp in one's own business
10. To make pretensions
11. To arrange matters so as to implicate, incriminate, embarrass or make a fool of (another person) (informal) (setˈ-up noun)

set upon

1. To set on
2. Determined on