settle
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively; agree upon (as time, price, or conditions).
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to place in a desired state or in order.
to settle one's affairs.
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to pay, as a bill.
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to close (an account) by payment.
- Synonyms:
- liquidate
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to migrate to and organize (an area, territory, etc.); colonize.
The pilgrims settled Plymouth.
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to cause to take up residence.
They settled immigrants in urban areas.
- Synonyms:
- relocate
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to furnish (a place) with inhabitants or settlers.
The French settled this colony with army veterans.
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to quiet, calm, or bring to rest (the nerves, stomach, etc.).
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to stop from annoying or opposing.
A sharp word will settle that youngster.
- Synonyms:
- pacify, still, compose, tranquilize
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to conclude or resolve.
to settle a dispute.
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to make (someone) comfortable or snug.
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to make stable; place in a permanent position or on a permanent basis.
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to cause (a liquid) to become clear by depositing dregs.
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to cause (dregs, sediment, etc.) to sink or be deposited.
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to cause to sink down gradually; make firm or compact.
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to dispose of finally; close up.
to settle an estate.
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Law.
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to secure (property, title, etc.) on or to a person by formal or legal process.
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to terminate (legal proceedings) by mutual consent of the parties.
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verb (used without object)
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to decide, arrange, or agree (often followed by on orupon ).
to settle on a plan of action.
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to arrange matters in dispute; come to an agreement.
to settle with a person.
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to pay a bill; make a financial arrangement (often followed byup ).
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to take up residence in a new country or place.
Many Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi River following La Salle's explorations.
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to come to rest, as from flight.
A bird settled on a bough.
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to gather, collect, or become fixed in a particular place, direction, etc..
A cold settled in my head.
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to become calm or composed (often followed bydown ).
I'll wait until the class settles before starting the lesson.
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to come to rest (often followed bydown ).
We settled down for the night at an old country inn.
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to sink down gradually; subside.
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to become clear by the sinking of suspended particles, as a liquid.
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to sink to the bottom, as sediment.
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to become firm or compact, as the ground.
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(of a female animal) to become pregnant; conceive.
verb phrase
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settle into to become established in.
to settle into a new routine.
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settle for to be satisfied with.
to settle for less.
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settle down
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to become established in some routine, especially upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
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to become calm or quiet.
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to apply oneself to serious work.
There were so many distractions that we weren't able to settle down to studying.
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noun
verb
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(tr) to put in order; arrange in a desired state or condition
he settled his affairs before he died
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to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable position
he settled himself by the fire
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(intr) to come to rest or a halt
a bird settled on the hedge
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to take up or cause to take up residence
the family settled in the country
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to establish or become established in a way of life, job, residence, etc
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(tr) to migrate to and form a community; colonize
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to make or become quiet, calm, or stable
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(intr) to be cast or spread; come down
fog settled over a wide area
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to make (a liquid) clear or (of a liquid) to become clear; clarify
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to cause (sediment) to sink to the bottom, as in a liquid, or (of sediment) to sink thus
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to subside or cause to subside and become firm or compact
the dust settled
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(sometimes foll by up) to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)
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(tr) to decide, conclude, or dispose of
to settle an argument
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(intr; often foll by on or upon) to agree or fix
to settle upon a plan
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(tr; usually foll by on or upon) to secure (title, property, etc) to a person, as by making a deed of settlement, will, etc
he settled his property on his wife
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to determine (a legal dispute, etc) by agreement of the parties without resort to court action (esp in the phrase settle out of court )
noun
Other Word Forms
- quasi-settled adjective
- settleability noun
- settleable adjective
- settledness noun
- unsettleable adjective
- well-settled adjective
Etymology
Origin of settle1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English setlen, setel(le) “to seat, place in a seat, be seated; sink down; descend,” Old English setlan (attested once) “to settle, seat, take a position of rest,” derivative of setl settle 2; compare Dutch zetelen
Origin of settle2
First recorded before 900; Middle English setle, setel(e), settel “seat, chair, bench, place for sitting,” Old English setl, sedl, sethl; cognate with German Sessel “armchair,” Gothic sitls “seat,” Latin sella (from unrecorded sedla “saddle”; akin to sit 1
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
