set
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: sĕt
ipa: /sɛt/
homophone: sett
rhymes: -ɛt
Forms: form: sets
Etymology: 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.
Senses: glosses: A young plant fit for setting out; a slip; shoot.
glosses: A rudimentary fruit.
examples: text: The weary sun hath made a golden set.
ref: c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
text: And a rose-bush leans upon, / Thou that faintly smilest still, / As a Naiad in a well, / Looking at the set of day, […]
ref: 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “Adeline”, in Poems. […], volume I, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 41:
glosses: The setting of the sun or other luminary; (by extension) the close of the day.
examples: text: Here and there, amongst individuals alive to the particular evils of the age, and watching the very set of the current, there may have been even a more systematic counteraction applied to the mischief.
ref: 1840, Thomas De Quincey, Style:
text: He put his eye to the alidade. “I thought so! Zero five four and that's allowing nothing for set and drift along the line of bearing. We're inside the departure point now[…]”
ref: 1951, Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny, page 238:
glosses: General movement; direction; drift; tendency.
examples: text: a set of tables
glosses: A matching collection of similar things. (Note the similar meaning in Etymology 2, Noun.)
examples: text: a set of tools
glosses: A collection of various objects for a particular purpose.
examples: text: a set of steps
glosses: An object made up of several parts.
topics: mathematics
sciences
set-theory
glosses: 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.
topics: mathematics
sciences
qualifier: “sets”
glosses: Set theory.
examples: text: the country set
text: That he took perfumed baths is a truth; and he used to say that he took them after meeting certain men of a very low set in hall.
ref: 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XIX, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
text: “Good gracious, child, you didn't join the Theosophists and kiss Buddha's big toe, did you ? I tried to get into their set once, but they cast me out for a sceptic — without a chance of improving my poor little mind, too.”
ref: 1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Education of Otis Yeere”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 21:
text: They were very private people, though they did have their circle of friends at Bilignin. They had little or no association with the Natalie Barney set, in their eyes much too frivolous.
ref: 1984 December 29, H. W. Seng, “Alice, Gertrude and Sammy Dearest”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 25, page 13:
glosses: A group of people, usually meeting socially or connected through some shared interest, activity, attribute, etc.
glosses: The scenery for a film or play.
glosses: 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.
topics: dance
dancing
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: The initial or basic formation of dancers.
examples: text: Meronym: reps
text: This is the fourth set of benchpresses.
ref: 1974, Charles Gaines, George Butler, Pumping Iron: The Art and Sport of Bodybuilding, page 22:
topics: exercise
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A group of repetitions of a single exercise performed one after the other without rest.
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
tennis
glosses: A complete series of games, forming part of a match.
topics: ball-games
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
volleyball
glosses: A complete series of points, forming part of a match.
topics: ball-games
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
volleyball
glosses: The act of directing the ball to a teammate for an attack.
examples: text: You heard “oh, Jeremy Corbyn” everywhere: at the silent disco, during Radiohead’s Friday night headlining set, midway through the Other stage appearance by rapper Stormzy, who gamely joined in.
ref: 2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in the Guardian:
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: A musical performance by a band, disc jockey, etc., consisting of several musical pieces.
examples: text: He plays the set on Saturdays.
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: A drum kit, a drum set.
examples: text: Looking at pupil attainment, the study found that students with the same Key Stage 3 scores could have their GCSE grade raised or lowered by up to half a grade as a result of being placed in a higher or lower set.
ref: 2012 April 26, “Themes: Pupil grouping and organisation of classes”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), Department for Education, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2012:
topics: education
glosses: A class group in a subject where pupils are divided by ability.
topics: card-games
poker
glosses: 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: sense: close of the day
word: dusk
sense: close of the day
word: eve
sense: close of the day
word: evening
sense: close of the day
word: sundown
sense: close of the day
word: sunset
sense: general movement
word: direction
sense: general movement
word: drift
sense: general movement
word: heading
sense: general movement
word: motion
sense: general movement
word: movement
sense: general movement
word: path
sense: general movement
word: tendency
sense: general movement
word: trend
sense: matching collection of similar things
word: suite
sense: matching collection of similar things
word: block
topics: set-theory
mathematics
sciences
word: set theory
sense: group of people, usually meeting socially
word: club
sense: group of people, usually meeting socially
word: coterie
sense: scenery
word: scenery
sense: performance of several musical pieces
word: gig
sense: performance of several musical pieces
word: session
sense: drum kit
word: drums
sense: drum kit
word: drum kit
sense: drum kit
word: drum set
sense: three of a kind
word: three of a kind
Derived terms: sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: age set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: arithmetical set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Aronhold set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: axiom of power set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: bedroom set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Besicovitch set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Borel set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: boxed set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: box set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: breakfast set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: bump set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: cabana set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Caccioppoli set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Cantor set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: carrier set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: causal set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: causet
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: character set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: chess set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: cluster set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: companion set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: contrast set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: conversation set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: convex set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: cord set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: countable set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: country set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: cruet set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: crystal set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: cut-set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: data set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Delone set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: difference set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: dining set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: directed set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: discrete set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: disjoint set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: dominating set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: dope set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: drop set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: edge set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: evoked set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: expansion set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Fatou set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: film-set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: film set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: filmset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: finite set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: fireside set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: fixed set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: fuzzy set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: game set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: game, set, match
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: giant set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: gift set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: golden set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: ground set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: grow a set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Hintikka set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: homeset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: hom-set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: hot set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: independent set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: instruction set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: IP set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Islington set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: item set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: jet set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Julia set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Kakeya set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: key set identifier
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: level set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: lexical set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: limbo set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: lower set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: measurable set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: mess set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: Meyer set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: morphism set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: negligible set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: null set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: ordered set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: partially ordered set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: perceptual set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: perfect set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: point-set topology
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: poset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: power set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: prong-set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: quotient set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: recordset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: reduction set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: riveting set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: roomset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: sake set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: sala set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: scuba set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: service set identifier
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set-builder notation
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set designer
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set function
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set of pipes
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set of wheels
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set operation
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set piece
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set point
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: set theory
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: sieve set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: singleton set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: skill set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: smart set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: sofa set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: spectral set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: stage set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: steak set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: subset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: swingset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: swoon set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: tea set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: toilet set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: totally ordered set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: train set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: trainset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: transitive set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: trap set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: twinset
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: two set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: uncountable set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: underlying set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: universal set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: upper set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: wandering set
sense: terms derived from Etymology 4 of set "grouping" (noun)
word: working set
Related terms: sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: bag
sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: closed set
sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: empty set
sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: Mandelbrot set
sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: multiset
sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: open set
sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: subset
sense: (set theory) collection of objects
word: superset