set-back

[set-bak]

noun

1. Surveying.,  the interval by which a chain or tape exceeds the length being measured.

2. setback.

set back

verb

1. to hinder; impede

2. informal,  to cost (a person) a specified amount

noun

1. anything that serves to hinder or impede

2. a recession in the upper part of a high building, esp one that increases the daylight at lower levels

3. Also called: offset.  setoff. a steplike shelf where a wall is reduced in thickness

Word History and Origins

Origin of set back¹

Special use of setback

Idioms and Phrases

Slow down the progress of, hinder, as in The project was set back by the frequent absences of staff members . [First half of 1500s]

Cost, as in That car set me back twenty thousand dollars . [ Colloquial ; c. 1900]

Change to a lower level or earlier time, as in We set back the thermostat whenever we go on vacation , or On October 10 we have to set back the clocks . [First half of 1600s] Set back the clock is also used figuratively to mean “return to an earlier era,” as in He wished he could set back the clock to those carefree high-school days . Also see set forward .