offset

[ noun, adjective awf-set, of-; verb awf-set, of- ]

/ noun, adjective ˈɔfˌsɛt, ˈɒf-; verb ˌɔfˈsɛt, ˌɒf- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR offset ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

something that counterbalances, counteracts, or compensates for something else; compensating equivalent.

the start, beginning, or outset.

a short lateral shoot by which certain plants are propagated.

an offshoot or branch of a specific population or family.

any offshoot; branch.

Also called offset printing, offset lithography. Lithography.

a process in which a lithographic stone or metal or paper plate is used to make an inked impression on a rubber blanket that transfers it to the paper being printed, instead of being made directly on the paper.
the impression itself.

Also called setoff. Printing. an unintentional transfer of excess or undried ink from one printed sheet to another.

Geology.

(in faults) the magnitude of displacement between two previously aligned bodies.
a spur of a mountain range.

Machinery. a jog or short displacement in an otherwise straight and continuous line, as in a pipe, lever, or rod, made to avoid objects or to connect with other parts.

Architecture. setoff (def. 3).

Surveying.

a short distance measured perpendicularly from a main survey line.
Also called offset line . a line a short distance from and parallel to a main survey line.

Naval Architecture. any of the coordinates by which any point on a hull being planned is located.

adjective

of, noting, or pertaining to an offset.

Lithography. pertaining to, printed by, or suitable for printing by offset.

placed away from a center line; off-center.

placed at an angle to something, as to the axis of a form, shape, or object; not parallel.

verb (used with object), off·set, off·set·ting.

to counterbalance as an equivalent does; compensate for: The gains offset the losses.

to juxtapose with something else, as for purposes of comparison: to offset advantages against disadvantages.

Printing.

to make an offset of.
to print by the process of offset lithography.

Architecture. to build with a setoff, as a wall.

Surveying. to establish (a line) parallel to a main survey line at an offset.

verb (used without object), off·set, off·set·ting.

to project as an offset or branch.

to counterbalance or compensate.

Printing. to make an offset.

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Origin of offset

First recorded in 1545–55; after verb phrase set off

SYNONYMS FOR offset

2 onset.

17 match, parallel; counterweight, counterpoise; counteract.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR offset ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby offset

off-sales, offscouring, offscourings, offscreen, off-season, offset, offset lithography, offshoot, offshore, offshore dock, offshore drilling

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for offset

The shopping spree by the rich will not offset the spending cuts by the rest of the population.
Haves and Have-Nots: Pandemic Recovery Explodes China’s Wealth Gap|Daniel Malloy|August 19, 2020|Ozy
Over the years, developers in San Diego have been required to fork over money to offset the impact of their development.
Morning Report: School’s Out for … ???|Voice of San Diego|July 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Early hot spots like New York City have cooled off, but that decrease in new cases is offset by a surge in states like Texas, Arizona, California and Florida.
The U.S. largely wasted time bought by COVID-19 lockdowns. Now what?|Jonathan Lambert|July 1, 2020|Science News
Urchin, Dungeness crab and clam biomass fell when otters were present, but these losses were offset by gains in fish and other invertebrates that rely on kelp.
Bringing sea otters back to the Pacific coast pays off, but not for everyone|Jonathan Lambert|June 11, 2020|Science News

So I’ve always believed that the euro is problematic, because you’re creating a currency, but without a single banking system, without a fiscal union, without offsets to deal with it.
The Prime Minister Who Cried Brexit (Ep. 392)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 10, 2019|Freakonomics
Fortunately, Pomplamoose made some money to offset some of these expenses.
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He plants a tree in Central America for every bottle of Tru spirits he sells to offset the carbon produced in manufacturing.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Vodka|Debra A. Klein|July 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The wealthy want to be seen as even more parsimonious, to offset the incriminating millions in their bank accounts.
Sting and Hillary Are Just Like You: How the Very Rich Play at Being Very Ordinary|Tim Teeman|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Carbon utilization can offset or even exceed, the additional cost of carbon scrubbing.
Yes, There’s a ‘War on Coal.’ Here’s How to End It.|Jonathan Miller|August 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And it's been a notorious fact for years that immigration's modest economic benefits are offset by very large fiscal costs.
You Can't Wish Away the Facts About Immigration Amnesty|David Frum|May 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Our army would have been swelled by the return of our wounded and sick, without any losses to offset our increase.
Who Goes There?|Blackwood Ketcham Benson
The principal purpose would be to offset somewhat the nation's present excess of administrative centralization.
The Governments of Europe|Frederic Austin Ogg
The Constitution requires that reapportionment or redistricting take place every ten years to offset population changes.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
The additional complication introduced by the cut-off relay is more than offset by the saving in complexity of the jacks.
Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2|Kempster Miller
XCV, which illustrates a beam resting upon a ledge or offset of the inner walls.
A Study of Pueblo Architecture: Tusayan and Cibola|Victor Mindeleff and Cosmos Mindeleff

British Dictionary definitions for offset

offset

noun (ˈɒfˌsɛt)

something that counterbalances or compensates for something else

an allowance made to counteract some effect

a printing method in which the impression is made onto an intermediate surface, such as a rubber blanket, which transfers it to the paper
(modifier) relating to, involving, or printed by offsetoffset letterpress; offset lithography

another name for set-off

botany

a short runner in certain plants, such as the houseleek, that produces roots and shoots at the tip
a plant produced from such a runner

a ridge projecting from a range of hills or mountains

the horizontal component of displacement on a fault

a narrow horizontal or sloping surface formed where a wall is reduced in thickness towards the top

a person or group descended collaterally from a particular group or family; offshoot

surveying a measurement of distance to a point at right angles to a survey line

verb (ˌɒfˈsɛt) -sets, -setting or -set

(tr) to counterbalance or compensate for

(tr) to print (pictures, text, etc) using the offset process

(tr) to construct an offset in (a wall)

(intr) to project or develop as an offset

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for offset

offset

[ ôf′sĕt′ ]

A shoot that develops laterally at the base of a plant, often rooting to form a new plant. Many succulents and cacti are propagated by removing offsets and planting them elsewhere. See more at vegetative reproduction.

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