Set \Set\, n.
1. The act of setting, as of the sun or other heavenly body;
descent; hence, the close; termination. "Locking at the
set of day." --Tennyson.
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The weary sun hath made a golden set. --Shak.
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2. That which is set, placed, or fixed. Specifically:
(a) A young plant for growth; as, a set of white thorn.
(b) That which is staked; a wager; a venture; a stake;
hence, a game at venture. [Obs. or R.]
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We will in France, by God's grace, play a set
Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.
--Shak.
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That was but civil war, an equal set. --Dryden.
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(c) (Mech.) Permanent change of figure in consequence of
excessive strain, as from compression, tension,
bending, twisting, etc.; as, the set of a spring.
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(d) A kind of punch used for bending, indenting, or giving
shape to, metal; as, a saw set.
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(e) (Pile Driving) A piece placed temporarily upon the
head of a pile when the latter cannot be reached by
the weight, or hammer, except by means of such an
intervening piece. [Often incorrectly written sett.]
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(f) (Carp.) A short steel spike used for driving the head
of a nail below the surface. Called also nail set.
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3. [Perhaps due to confusion with sect, sept.] A number of
things of the same kind, ordinarily used or classed
together; a collection of articles which naturally
complement each other, and usually go together; an
assortment; a suit; as, a set of chairs, of china, of
surgical or mathematical instruments, of books, etc. [In
this sense, sometimes incorrectly written sett.]
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4. A number of persons associated by custom, office, common
opinion, quality, or the like; a division; a group; a
clique. "Others of our set." --Tennyson.
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This falls into different divisions, or sets, of
nations connected under particular religions. --R.
P. Ward.
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5. Direction or course; as, the set of the wind, or of a
current.
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6. In dancing, the number of persons necessary to execute a
quadrille; also, the series of figures or movements
executed.
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7. The deflection of a tooth, or of the teeth, of a saw,
which causes the the saw to cut a kerf, or make an
opening, wider than the blade.
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8.
(a) A young oyster when first attached.
(b) Collectively, the crop of young oysters in any
locality.
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9. (Tennis) A series of as many games as may be necessary to
enable one side to win six. If at the end of the tenth
game the score is a tie, the set is usually called a deuce
set, and decided by an application of the rules for
playing off deuce in a game. See Deuce.
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10. (Type Founding) That dimension of the body of a type
called by printers the width.
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11. (Textiles) Any of various standards of measurement of the
fineness of cloth; specif., the number of reeds in one
inch and the number of threads in each reed. The exact
meaning varies according to the location where it is
used. Sometimes written sett.
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12. A stone, commonly of granite, shaped like a short brick
and usually somewhat larger than one, used for street
paving. Commonly written sett.
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13. Camber of a curved roofing tile.
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14. The manner, state, or quality of setting or fitting; fit;
as, the set of a coat. [Colloq.]
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15. Any collection or group of objects considered together.
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Dead set.
(a) The act of a setter dog when it discovers the game,
and remains intently fixed in pointing it out.
(b) A fixed or stationary condition arising from obstacle
or hindrance; a deadlock; as, to be at a dead set.
(c) A concerted scheme to defraud by gaming; a determined
onset.
To make a dead set, to make a determined onset, literally
or figuratively.
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Syn: Collection; series; group. See Pair.
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