setting

American  

[set-ing] / ˈsɛt ɪŋ /

noun

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.  Also called 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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Related Words

See environment.

Other Word Forms

• nonsetting adjective
• unsetting adjective

Etymology

Origin of setting

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

Example Sentences

Firms have churned out hundreds, if not thousands, of online privacy tools and settings, launched with the apparent aim to help us secure our human right to privacy, in our digital lives.

From BBC

Our setting is 1936 Chicago, but this is an exaggerated, fictional world, not ours or even Karloff’s.

From Los Angeles Times

California, Maryland and Massachusetts have banned insurers from using credit scores when setting home-insurance premiums.

From MarketWatch

In real clinical settings, doctors rely on far more than hand images when diagnosing patients.

From Science Daily

But Weimer on Wednesday said Tuttle had "put a great deal of energy into setting a new course" at the festival, which she has led for the past two years.

From Barron's

Related Words

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