- set off
- verb1. 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)• Cause:• Verb Frames:-Somebody ——s something
-Something ——s something
2. leave (Freq. 3)-The family took off for Florida
• Syn:• Derivationally related forms: ↑takeoff (for: ↑take off), ↑parting (for: ↑part), ↑departure (for: ↑depart), ↑departer (for: ↑depart)• 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
• Derivationally related forms: ↑blowup (for: ↑blow up), ↑detonative (for: ↑detonate), ↑detonation (for: ↑detonate), ↑detonator (for: ↑detonate), ↑explosion (for: ↑explode)• Hypernyms: ↑change integrity• 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• Verb Frames:-Somebody ——s something
-Something ——s something
5. make up for (Freq. 1)-His skills offset his opponent's superior strength
• 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
• 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
• Derivationally related forms:↑instigative (for: ↑instigate), ↑instigation (for: ↑instigate), ↑instigant (for: ↑instigate), ↑instigator (for: ↑instigate), ↑incitive (for: ↑incite), ↑incitement (for: ↑incite), ↑incitation (for: ↑incite), ↑inciter (for: ↑incite)• Hyponyms: ↑raise• 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 directionWe 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.
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.
The thick smoke set off the school's fire alarms.
They were accused of setting off the bomb that destroyed the building.
It was set off by remote control.
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
• • •Main Entry: ↑set* * *
ˌset ˈoff derivedto begin a journey•
We set off for London just after ten.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.