set-back

American  

[set-bak] / ˈsɛtˌbæk /

noun

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

2. setback.

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set back British  

verb

1. to hinder; impede

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

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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

set back Idioms  

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

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

3. 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 .

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Etymology

Origin of set-back

Special use of setback

Example Sentences

When Ms Buchan's first line of treatment for her terminal breast cancer stopped working, it was a set-back.

From BBC

However, this would-be iron man recently suffered a set-back when he was arrested in the central African nation of Chad.

From BBC

His run to the last 32 in Miami has taken him to 59th in the live rankings before this injury set-back.

From BBC

This set-back took place while the Zephyr was testing the potential for such aircraft on behalf of the US Army.

From BBC

It remains to be seen what this set-back means for the mine's operators and their plans for restoration work, which will now be the subject of increased scrutiny.

From BBC