set-aside

[set-uh-sahyd]

noun

1. something, as land or profits, set aside for a particular purpose.

2. a tract of federal lands set aside as a wildlife refuge, oil exploration site, etc.

3. a tract of farmland on which commercial crops or a specific crop will not be grown, as part of a federal plan to decrease production in order to maintain or increase prices.

4. a specified amount or percentage of an industry's production set aside, especially for government use.

   Ten percent of gasoline production is a set-aside for emergency use by the state.

5. a government contract awarded, as to a minority-owned business, without competitive bidding.

adjective

1. pertaining to or constituting a set-aside.

   set-aside provisions of the new law.

set aside

verb

1. to reserve for a special purpose; put to one side

2. to discard, dismiss, or quash

noun

1. 1. (in the European Union) a scheme in which a proportion of farmland is taken out of production in order to reduce surpluses or maintain or increase prices of a specific crop

   2. ( as modifier )

      set-aside land

Word History and Origins

Origin of set aside¹

First recorded in 1940–45; noun, adj. use of verb phrase set aside

Idioms and Phrases

Separate and reserve for a special purpose, as in We have to set aside some chairs for latecomers . [Early 1700s] Also see set by .

Discard or reject, as in Setting aside all health considerations, do you believe this law is fair to smokers? [Early 1400s]

Declare invalid, annul, or overrule, as in The higher court set aside the conviction . [Mid-1700s] Also see lay aside .

Related Words

• abolish 
• abrogate 
• annul 
• deny 
• dismantle 
• dismiss 
• invalidate 
• lift 
• nullify 
• quash 
• remove 
• renounce 
• repeal 
• rescind 
• retract 
• reverse 
• vacate 
• void 
• withdraw