Adjacent Words

set off definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits" [syn: trip, actuate, trigger, activate, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch off]
2: leave; "The family took off for Florida" [syn: depart, part, start, start out, set forth, set off, set out, take off]
3: direct attention to, as if by means of contrast; "This dress accentuates your nice figure!"; "I set off these words by brackets" [syn: bring out, set off]
4: cause to burst with a violent release of energy; "We exploded the nuclear bomb" [syn: explode, detonate, blow up, set off]
5: make up for; "His skills offset his opponent's superior strength" [syn: cancel, offset, set off]
6: set in motion or cause to begin; "The guide set the tour off to a good start"
7: provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people" [syn: incite, instigate, set off, stir up]

Merriam Webster's

verb Date: circa 1598 transitive verb 1. a. to put in relief ; show up by contrast b. adorn, embellish c. to set apart ; make distinct or outstanding 2. a. offset, compensate <more variety in the Lancashire weather to set off its most disagreeable phases — Geographical Journal> b. to make a setoff of <the respective totals shall be set off against one another — O. R. Hobson> 3. a. to set in motion ; cause to begin b. to cause to explode 4. to measure off on a surface intransitive verb to start out on a course or a journey <set off for home>

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. When you set off, you start a journey. Nichols set off for his remote farmhouse in Connecticut... I set off, full of optimism. = set out PHRASAL VERB: V P prep/adv, V P 2. If something sets off something such as an alarm or a bomb, it makes it start working so that, for example, the alarm rings or the bomb explodes. Any escape, once it's detected, sets off the alarm... It could take months before evidence emerges on how the bomb was made, and who set it off. PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P 3. If something sets off an event or a series of events, it causes it to start happening. The arrival of the charity van set off a minor riot as villagers scrambled for a share of the aid... PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron)

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. (Active.) 1. Portion off, define the boundaries of. 2. Adorn, decorate, embellish. II. (Neuter.) Start, set out.

Moby Thesaurus

actuate, adjoin, adorn, allocate, allot, analogize, analyze, anatomize, appoint, appropriate to, array, assign, assign to, assimilate, atomize, atone for, backfire, balance, be at cross-purposes, be off, be opposed to, bear for, bear up for, bear up to, beautify, become one, bedeck, bedizen, befringe, bind, blast, blazon, blow out, blow up, border, bound, break for, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, burst, bust, change, chop logic, circulate, clash, color, compare, compare and contrast, compare with, conflict, conflict with, confront, contradict, contradistinguish, contrapose, contrast, contrast with, contravene, controvert, counter, counteract, counterbalance, countercheck, counterpoise, counterpose, countervail, counterweigh, counterwork, dandify, dash for, deck, deck out, decorate, demarcate, demark, destine, desynonymize, detail, detonate, difference, differentiate, discharge, discriminate, disequalize, disjoin, distinguish, diversify, divide, dizen, doll up, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, draw the line, dress, dress up, earmark, edge, embellish, emblazon, embroider, enframe, enkindle, enrich, equiponderate, explode, fate, fig out, fire, fix up, frame, fringe, fulminate, furbish, garnish, get off, glamorize, go for, go forth, go off, grace, gussy up, hem, hit for, individualize, individuate, issue, issue forth, juxtapose in opposition, kindle, lap, lay for, lay off, lay out, let off, light the fuse, liken, liken to, line, list, lot, make a distinction, make assignments, make for, make up, make up to, march, marge, margin, marginate, mark, mark off, mark out, mark out for, mark the interface, match, measure against, measure off, measure out, metaphorize, modify, offset, oppose, oppugn, ordain, ornament, outset, outstart, outweigh, pace off, paint, parallel, particularize, personalize, pick out, place against, play at cross-purposes, portion off, prank, prank up, preen, prettify, pretty up, primp, primp up, prink, prink up, purfle, purl, put forth, redecorate, redeem, redo, refine a distinction, refurbish, relate, reserve, restrict, restrict to, rim, rule off, run a comparison, run counter to, run for, sail for, sally, sally forth, schedule, screen, screen out, segregate, select, separate, set, set a limit, set apart, set aside, set forth, set forward, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off against, set out, set out for, set over against, sever, severalize, shoot, side, sieve, sieve out, sift, sift out, similize, skirt, smarten, smarten up, sort, sort out, spark, specialize, split hairs, spruce up, square, square up, start, start off, start out, steer for, step off, strike out, subdivide, subtilize, tag, titivate, touch off, trick out, trick up, trigger, trim, vary, verge, view together, weigh, weigh against, winnow