| English Dictionary |
SETTLE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does settle mean?
• SETTLE (noun)
The noun SETTLE has 1 sense:
1. a long wooden bench with a back
Familiarity information: SETTLE used as a noun is very rare.
• SETTLE (verb)
The verb SETTLE has 22 senses:
1. settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
2. bring to an end; settle conclusively
3. settle conclusively; come to terms
4. take up residence and become established
5. come to terms
6. go under
7. become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
8. become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet
9. establish or develop as a residence
10. come to rest
11. arrange or fix in the desired order
12. accept despite lack of complete satisfaction
13. end a legal dispute by arriving at a settlement
14. dispose of; make a financial settlement
15. become clear by the sinking of particles
16. cause to become clear by forming a sediment (of liquids)
17. sink down or precipitate
18. fix firmly
19. get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury
20. make final; put the last touches on; put into final form
21. form a community
22. come as if by falling
Familiarity information: SETTLE used as a verb is very familiar.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A long wooden bench with a back
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
settee; settle
Hypernyms ("settle" is a kind of...):
bench (a long seat for more than one person)
Derivation:
settle (come to rest)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it settles Past simple: settled
Past participle: settled
-ing form: settling
Sense 1
Meaning:
Settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
settle; settle down
Context example:
dust settled on the roofs
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
lay; place; pose; position; put; set (put into a certain place or abstract location)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
sediment (settle as sediment)
Sentence frames:
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 2
Meaning:
Bring to an end; settle conclusively
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
adjudicate; decide; resolve; settle
Context example:
The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
judge (determine the result of (a competition))
adjust (decide how much is to be paid on an insurance claim)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
settlement (a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it)
settler (a negotiator who settles disputes)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Settle conclusively; come to terms
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
determine; settle; square off; square up
Context example:
We finally settled the argument
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
conclude; resolve (reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
clear; solve (settle, as of a debt)
concert (settle by agreement)
clinch (settle conclusively)
compromise (settle by concession)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
settlement (a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Take up residence and become established
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
locate; settle
Context example:
The immigrants settled in the Midwest
"Settle" entails doing...:
move (change residence, affiliation, or place of employment)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
resettle (settle in a new place)
colonise; colonize (settle as colonists or establish a colony (in))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
settlement (the act of colonizing; the establishment of colonies)
settlement (a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government)
settlement (an area where a group of families live together)
settler (a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Come to terms
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
conciliate; make up; patch up; reconcile; settle
Context example:
After some discussion we finally made up
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
agree; concord; concur; hold (be in accord; be in agreement)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
make peace (end hostilities)
appease; propitiate (make peace with)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Sense 6
Meaning:
Go under
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
go down; go under; settle; sink
Context example:
The raft sank and its occupants drowned
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)
Verb group:
sink (cause to sink)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
settle; subside (sink down or precipitate)
founder (sink below the surface)
submerge; submerse (sink below the surface; go under or as if under water)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 7
Meaning:
Become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
root; settle; settle down; steady down; take root
Context example:
He finally settled down
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
stabilise; stabilize (become stable or more stable)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
roost (settle down or stay, as if on a roost)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 8
Meaning:
Become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
Her mood settled into lethargy
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
become; get; go (enter or assume a certain state or condition)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 9
Meaning:
Establish or develop as a residence
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
This land was settled by Germans
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
build up; develop (change the use of and make available or usable)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
settlement (a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government)
settlement (an area where a group of families live together)
Sense 10
Meaning:
Come to rest
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
halt; stop (come to a halt, stop moving)
Sentence frames:
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
settle (a long wooden bench with a back)
Sense 11
Meaning:
Arrange or fix in the desired order
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
She settled the teacart
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
arrange; set up (put into a proper or systematic order)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 12
Meaning:
Accept despite lack of complete satisfaction
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
We settled for a lower price
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
accept; consent; go for (give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
settlement (termination of a business operation by using its assets to discharge its liabilities)
Sense 13
Meaning:
End a legal dispute by arriving at a settlement
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
The two parties finally settled
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
agree; concord; concur; hold (be in accord; be in agreement)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
settlement (something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making)
settlement (a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it)
Sense 14
Meaning:
Dispose of; make a financial settlement
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
arrange; fix up (make arrangements for)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
prorate (make a proportional settlement or distribution)
pay (discharge or settle)
square (pay someone and settle a debt)
compensate; make up; pay; pay off (do or give something to somebody in return)
liquidate (settle the affairs of by determining the debts and applying the assets to pay them off)
clean up (dispose of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
settlement (termination of a business operation by using its assets to discharge its liabilities)
Sense 15
Meaning:
Become clear by the sinking of particles
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
the liquid gradually settled
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Verb group:
settle (cause to become clear by forming a sediment (of liquids))
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sense 16
Meaning:
Cause to become clear by forming a sediment (of liquids)
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
sink (cause to sink)
Verb group:
settle (become clear by the sinking of particles)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
settlings (sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid)
Sense 17
Meaning:
Sink down or precipitate
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
settle; subside
Context example:
the mud subsides when the waters become calm
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
go down; go under; settle; sink (go under)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Derivation:
settling (a gradual sinking to a lower level)
settlings (sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid)
Sense 18
Meaning:
Fix firmly
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
ensconce; settle
Context example:
He ensconced himself in the chair
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
lay; place; pose; position; put; set (put into a certain place or abstract location)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Sense 19
Meaning:
Get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
get back; settle
Context example:
I finally settled with my old enemy
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
contend; fight; struggle (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 20
Meaning:
Make final; put the last touches on; put into final form
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
finalise; finalize; nail down; settle
Context example:
let's finalize the proposal
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Also:
settle on (become fixed (on))
Sense 21
Meaning:
Form a community
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
The Swedes settled in Minnesota
"Settle" entails doing...:
migrate; transmigrate (move from one country or region to another and settle there)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "settle"):
homestead (settle land given by the government and occupy it as a homestead)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
settlement (a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government)
settlement (an area where a group of families live together)
settler (a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country)
Sense 22
Meaning:
Come as if by falling
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
Context example:
Silence fell
Hypernyms (to "settle" is one way to...):
come (come to pass; arrive, as in due course)
Verb group:
fall (go as if by falling)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Context examples
He smiled as though it were all settled.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
I thought it was all settled.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
"I don't mind," laughed Laurie, as he settled his tie.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
He must know that the Woodhouses had been settled for several generations at Hartfield, the younger branch of a very ancient family—and that the Eltons were nobody.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
These include the structure of our thicker atmosphere and stronger gravity that helps settle dust.
(Martian Dust Storm Grows Global: Curiosity Captures Photos of Thickening Haze, NASA)
The genome of the Spirit Cave skeleton has wider significance because it helped reveal how ancient humans moved and settled across the Americas.
(Ancient DNA analysis unlocks secrets of Ice Age tribes in the Americas, University of Cambridge)
If the case is not ready to be heard until later in the year, it may be worth trying to settle in December or the first half of January.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
As he said this his countenance became expressive of a calm, settled grief that touched me to the heart.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
Judge Moneybag will settle this case, I think!
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
I told my plan to the captain, and between us we settled on the details of its accomplishment.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"He who would do great things should not attempt them all alone." (Native American proverb, Seneca)
"When what you want doesn't happen, learn to want what does." (Arabic proverb)
"The innkeeper trusts his guests like he is himself" (Dutch proverb)