set off

set off
verb
1. put in motion or move to act (Freq. 4)
-

trigger a reaction

-

actuate the circuits

• Syn:
• Derivationally related forms:
↑spark (for: ↑spark), ↑activation (for: ↑activate), ↑trigger (for: ↑trigger), ↑actuator (for: ↑actuate), ↑act (for: ↑actuate), ↑actuation (for: ↑actuate), ↑trip (for: ↑trip), ↑tripper (for: ↑trip)
• Hypernyms: ↑initiate, ↑pioneer
• Cause:
↑happen, ↑hap, ↑go on, ↑pass off, ↑occur, ↑pass, ↑fall out, ↑come about, ↑take place
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Something ——s something

2. leave (Freq. 3)
-

The family took off for Florida

• Syn:
↑depart, ↑part, ↑start, ↑start out, ↑set forth, ↑set out, ↑take off
• See Also: ↑part with (for: ↑part)
• Derivationally related forms: ↑takeoff (for: ↑take off), ↑parting (for: ↑part), ↑departure (for: ↑depart), ↑departer (for: ↑depart)
• Hypernyms: ↑leave, ↑go forth, ↑go away
• Hyponyms:
• Verb Frames:
-

Something ——s

-

Somebody ——s

-

Somebody ——s PP

-

The children set off to the playground

3. cause to burst with a violent release of energy (Freq. 2)
-

We exploded the nuclear bomb

• Syn: ↑explode, ↑detonate, ↑blow up
• Derivationally related forms: ↑blowup (for: ↑blow up), ↑detonative (for: ↑detonate), ↑detonation (for: ↑detonate), ↑detonator (for: ↑detonate), ↑explosion (for: ↑explode)
• Hypernyms: ↑change integrity
• Hyponyms: ↑fulminate, ↑dynamite
• Cause: ↑detonate, ↑explode, ↑blow up
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

4. direct attention to, as if by means of contrast (Freq. 2)
-

This dress accentuates your nice figure!

-

I set off these words by brackets

• Syn: ↑bring out
• Hypernyms: ↑stress, ↑emphasize, ↑emphasise, ↑punctuate, ↑accent, ↑accentuate
• Hyponyms: ↑pick up, ↑foreground, ↑highlight, ↑spotlight, ↑play up, ↑raise
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Something ——s something

5. make up for (Freq. 1)
-

His skills offset his opponent's superior strength

• Syn: ↑cancel, ↑offset
• Derivationally related forms: ↑offset (for: ↑offset)
• Hypernyms: ↑balance, ↑equilibrate, ↑equilibrize, ↑equilibrise
• Hyponyms: ↑counteract, ↑countervail, ↑neutralize, ↑counterbalance
• Verb Frames:
-

Something ——s something

6. set in motion or cause to begin (Freq. 1)
-

The guide set the tour off to a good start

• Hypernyms: ↑begin, ↑lead off, ↑start, ↑commence
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

Something ——s somebody

-

Something ——s something

7. provoke or stir up
-

incite a riot

-

set off great unrest among the people

• Syn: ↑incite, ↑instigate, ↑stir up
• Derivationally related forms:
• Hypernyms: ↑provoke, ↑stimulate
• Hyponyms: ↑raise
• Cause: ↑act, ↑move
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

Somebody ——s somebody to INFINITIVE

* * *

begin a journey

* * *

set off [phrasal verb]
1 : to begin traveling in a particular direction

We set off for home.

They set off in a different direction.

In the first chapter, the hero sets off on a long voyage across the ocean.

2 set off (something) also set (something) off : to cause (something) to start or happen

set off an explosion

Her comments set off [=touched off] a chain of events that led to two people losing their jobs.

The incident set off a debate about how public land should be used.

3 set off (something) or set (something) off
3 a : to cause (something) to begin making noise

The thick smoke set off the school's fire alarms.

Your watch will probably set the metal detectors off.

3 b : to cause (fireworks, a bomb, etc.) to explode

They were accused of setting off the bomb that destroyed the building.

It was set off by remote control.

3 c : to make (something) easy to see or notice

The blue in your sweater sets off [=accents] your eyes.

Bright yellow police tape set off the area where the crime occurred.

a quote set off by quotation marks

4 set (someone) off : to cause (someone) to suddenly start yelling, crying, laughing, etc.

I wonder what set her off.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑set

* * *

ˌset ˈoff derived
to begin a journey

•

We set off for London just after ten.

Main entry: ↑setderived

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • set-off — index counterclaim, drawback Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 set off …   Law dictionary

  • Set-off — n. [Set + off.] 1. That which is set off against another thing; an offset. [1913 Webster] I do not contemplate such a heroine as a set off to the many sins imputed to me as committed against woman. D. Jerrold. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is use …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • set off — vt: to reduce or discharge by set off: offset Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. set off …   Law dictionary

  • Set-off — can refer to the following:* Set off (law), the reduction of a claim by deducting the amount of a valid countervailing claim* Set off (architecture), the horizontal line shown on a floorplan indicating a reduced wall thickness, and consequently… …   Wikipedia

  • set–off — / set ˌȯf/ n 1: the reduction or discharge of a debt by setting against it a claim in favor of the debtor; specif: the reduction or discharge of a party s debt or claim by an assertion of another claim arising out of another transaction or cause …   Law dictionary

  • set|off — «SEHT F, OF», noun. 1. a thing used to set off or adorn; ornament; decoration. SYNONYM(S): trimming. 2. something that counterbalances or makes up for something else; compensation; offset. 3. a) …   Useful english dictionary

  • set off — ► set off 1) begin a journey. 2) cause (a bomb or alarm) to go off. 3) serve as decorative embellishment to. Main Entry: ↑set …   English terms dictionary

  • set-off — setˈ off noun 1. A claim set against another 2. A crossclaim which partly offsets the original claim 3. A counterbalance 4. An ornament 5. A contrast, foil 6. A setting forth 7. An offset (architecture and printing) • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • set-off — the ability to discharge or reduce a debt by applying a counter claim between the same parties. For example, a bank which has lent money to a debtor may attempt to satisfy some or all of the loan by seizing the debtor s deposits at the bank… …   Glossary of Bankruptcy

  • set off — Synonyms and related words: actuate, adjoin, adorn, allocate, allot, analogize, analyze, anatomize, appoint, appropriate to, array, assign, assign to, assimilate, atomize, atone for, backfire, balance, be at cross purposes, be off, be opposed to …   Moby Thesaurus

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