Showing results for "setting"

• present participle of set.

setting

American  

[set-ing] / ˈsɛt ɪŋ /

noun

• settings
  plural

1. 

   the act of a person or thing that sets.

2. the surroundings or environment of anything.

   The garden was a perfect setting for the house.

3. the mounting in which a jewel is set.

4. a group of all the articles, as of china, silver, or glass, required for setting a table or a single place at a table.

5. the locale or period in which the action of a novel, play, film, etc., takes place.

   The setting of this story is Verona in the 15th century.

6. Also called stage setting, stage set. the scenery and other properties used in a dramatic performance.

7. Music.

   1. a piece of music composed for certain words.

   2. a piece of music composed for a particular medium, or arranged for other than the original medium.

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setting British  

/ ˈsɛtɪŋ /

noun

1. the surroundings in which something is set; scene

2. the scenery, properties, or background, used to create the location for a stage play, film, etc

3. music a composition consisting of a certain text and music provided or arranged for it

4. the metal mounting and surround of a gem

   diamonds in an antique gold setting

5. the tableware, cutlery, etc, for a single place at table

6. any of a series of points on a scale or dial that can be selected to control the level as of temperature, speed, etc, at which a machine functions

7. a clutch of eggs in a bird's nest, esp a clutch of hen's eggs

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Synonym Usage

See environment.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsetting
  adjective
• unsetting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• settings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of setting

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English; see origin at set, -ing ¹

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Explanation

A setting is where something is set, or placed. If you want to propose to your beloved, try to choose a romantic setting. To set means to put in place, so a setting is a placement. If you are a jeweler, you will spend a lot of time making silver and gold settings for precious stones. Setting can also mean context. If you tell me that you spent the whole weekend cooing and clucking, before I decide that you’re crazy, you might explain to me that the setting of that clucking was the birth of all the little chicks on your friend’s farm.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

setting settings

“The market is losing its patience” after setting high expectations for stocks involved in the AI trade, according to Lerner.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

Late in the third quarter, McDuffie picked off a pass, setting up Nacua’s 18-yard catch and run for a touchdown and a 24-9 lead.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

The group is also reviewing members’ production capacity after announcing last year that it would establish a new system for setting production baselines in 2027, which will determine future output quotas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

Manchester City needed goals from Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp against the run of play, but they dug in to win 2-1 and to continue setting the pace at the top.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

Danny breathed in the mountain air and stared at the bright orange sun setting between mountain peaks until the memory was burned in his mind.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

One thing that’s stood out to me is the way Pappas seems to actually decenter himself in these settings, which you don’t need me to tell you is unusual for a politician.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026

However, the same immune-suppressing properties that create potential risks for patients could also offer advantages in certain research settings.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

Consumer prices, excluding fresh food, climbed 2.1% in September from a year earlier, which will likely reinforce market views that the Bank of Japan will tighten policy settings in December.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

When it came to privacy, Mathew found, “Facebook was aware that its users did not understand its privacy settings and took advantage of that to a grossly unfair degree.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Then I selected the Indentured Servant Observation and Communications Tag control settings submenu, which operated both my eargear and security anklet.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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Related Words

• ambience
• backdrop
• context
• environment
• framework
• locale
• location
• site
• surroundings

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