settleset‧tle /ˈsetl/ ●●● S2 W2 verb 
Rodman met with Kreeger to try and settle the dispute over his contract. We hope the factions will be able to settle their differences (=agree to stop arguing) by peaceful means. Forensic tests should settle the question of whether Bates was actually present at the scene of the crime.settle with She finally settled with her former employers for an undisclosed sum. They might be willing to settle out of court (=come to an agreement without going to a court of law).2decide [transitive usually passive] to decide what you are going to do, especially so that you can make definite arrangements: Nothing’s settled yet. It’s settled then. I’ll go back to the States in June. ‘She’s only 15.’ ‘That settles it (=that is enough information for a definite decision to be made)! We’re not taking her with us!’3start living in a place a)[intransitive, transitive] to go to a place where no people have lived permanently before and start to live there: This territory was settled in the mid-1850s by German immigrants.GRAMMAR Settle is usually passive in this meaning, when used as a transitive verb. b)[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to go to live in a new place, and stay there for a long timesettle in Many Jewish people settled in the Lower East Side.4comfortable [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put yourself or someone else in a comfortable positionsettle yourself in/on etc something Donna did not dare settle herself too comfortably into her seat, in case she fell asleep. The dog settled on the grass to enjoy its bone. A nurse settled the old man into a chair. → settle back5quiet/calm [intransitive, transitive] (also settle down) to become quiet and calm, or to make someone quiet and calm: When the children had settled, Miss Brown gave out the new reading books. She breathed deeply to settle her nerves (=stop herself from feeling worried or frightened).6move down [intransitive] a)if dust, snow etc settles, it comes down and stays in one placesettle on Snow settled on the roofs. b)if a bird, insect etc settles, it flies down and rests on somethingsettle on A fly kept trying to settle on his face. c)if something such as a building or the ground settles, it sinks slowly to a lower level: The crack in the wall is caused by the ground settling.7pay money [intransitive, transitive] to pay money that is owedsettle a bill/account/claim I always settle my account in full each month. These insurance companies take forever to settle a claim.settle with He was able to settle with his creditors, and avoid going to jail.8organize business/money [transitive] to deal with all the details of a business or of someone’s money or property, so that nothing further needs to be done: When it is finally settled, the Marshall estate may be worth no more than $100,000. After her husband’s death, Jackie went to the city to settle his affairs.9settle a score/account to do something to hurt or cause trouble for someone because they have harmed or offended you: Did he have any enemies – someone with an old score to settle?10somebody’s eyes/gaze settles on somebody/something written if your eyes settle on someone or something, you notice them and look at them for a period of time: Her gaze settled on a door, and she wondered what was on the other side of it.11feeling/quality [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a quality or feeling settles over a place or person, it begins and has a strong effectsettle over/on An uneasy silence settled over the room. Depression settled over her like a heavy black cloud.12expression [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a particular expression settles on your face, it stays there: A disapproving frown settled on her face.13stomach [intransitive, transitive] if your stomach settles, or if something settles it, it stops feeling uncomfortable or making you sick: Georgia had taken pills to settle her stomach, but she was still throwing up every hour. → let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle at dust1(5)COLLOCATIONSnounssettle a dispute/argument/conflict· Every effort was made to settle the dispute, without success.settle a lawsuit/case· The city will pay $875,000 to settle the lawsuit.settle a question/matter· It is the area of pricing which may settle the question of which to buy.settle your differences (=agree to stop arguing)· The two recently met to settle their differences.adverbssettle something finally/eventually· The case was finally settled by the Appeal Court.settle something amicably (=in a friendly way, without using a court of law)· The dispute was settled amicably.phrasessettle out of court (=come to an agreement without going to a court of law)· She talked to a lawyer and settled out of court with her former employer.settle back phrasal verb to lean back in a bed or chair, and relax and enjoy yourself: Vera settled back to enjoy the film.settle down phrasal verb1settle (somebody) down to become quiet and calm, or to make someone quiet and calm: Shh! Settle down, please! Now turn to page 57. When Kyle was a baby, we used to take him for rides in the car to settle him down.2to start living a quiet and calm life in one place, especially when you get married: They’d like to see their daughter settle down, get married, and have kids.3to start giving all of your attention to a job or activitysettle down to I sorted out my mail, then settled down to some serious work.4if a situation settles down, it becomes calmer and you are less busy or less worried: It’s been really hectic here. When things settle down, I’ll give you a call.settle for something phrasal verb to accept something even though it is not the best, or not what you really want: They want $2,500 for it, but they might settle for $2,000.GRAMMAR Settle for is never passive.settle in (also settle into something) phrasal verb to begin to feel happy and relaxed in a new situation, home, job, or school: How’s your new home? Are you settling in OK? It takes a few months to settle into life at college.settle on/upon somebody/something phrasal verb1to decide or agree on something: They haven’t settled on a name for the baby yet.2settle something on somebody British English formal to make a formal arrangement to give money or property to someone: She settled a small yearly sum on each of her children.settle up phrasal verb to pay what you owe on an account or bill: We settled up and checked out of the hotel.settle up with I’ll settle up with the bartender, then let’s go.
WORD ORIGINsettle
Origin:
Old English setlanVERB TABLE
settle
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | settle |
| he, she, it | settles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | settled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have settled |
| he, she, it | has settled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had settled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will settle |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have settled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am settling |
| he, she, it | is settling | |
| you, we, they | are settling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was settling |
| you, we, they | were settling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been settling |
| he, she, it | has been settling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been settling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be settling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been settling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A look of fury settled on his face.
- After her husband's death, Jackie went to the city to settle her husband's affairs.
- Historians are unsure when the territory was first settled.
- I settled the bill and left the restaurant.
- In the end we settled the deal on very favorable terms.
- Many Jewish immigrants settled in the Lower East Side.
- Nothing is settled yet.
- Please settle this account within two weeks.
- She settled herself by an oak tree on a hill overlooking the town.
- So that settles it. We'll pay you half the purchase price now, and the rest over two years.
- The existing chimney's foundation has settled and needs to be replaced.
- The family settled in a small Nevada town where they opened a store.
- We lived in Thailand, then Singapore, and finally settled in Hong Kong.
- We talked to the carpenter to settle plans for the expansion of the restaurant.
- Before settling on a mandatory-guideline system, Congress considered other competing proposals for sentencing reform.
- Blue resigns himself to a long wait and then settles down with his newspapers and magazines.
- However, he settled down again and, with his assistant Brunskill, continued to rule the gallows.
- I ask the House to settle down and listen to the questions.
- Last year the Department of the Environment was brought in to settle the case.
- Once the question of the location of the state leper home was settled, the disease ceased to make headlines.
- The players need to have a chance to settle down.
Longman Language Activatorto finish making a business agreement or plan
· In the end we settled the deal on very favorable terms.· So that settles it. We'll pay you half the purchase price now, and the rest over two years.· We talked to the carpenter to settle plans for the expansion of the restaurant.
: conclude a deal/treaty/agreement successfully finish an agreement, especially one that is important and involves a large number of people: · The British car industry has just concluded a deal with the Japanese government.· European governments are trying to conclude a treaty to ban certain atmospheric tests.
informal to finish a meeting, a business agreement, or a plan by settling everything quickly in a satisfactory way: wrap up something: · If they accept our price we can wrap up the deal right away.wrap something/it/them up: · I want to wrap this meeting up as quickly as possible. I have another appointment in an hour.
informal to settle a business agreement or plan in a satisfactory way, especially in a way that is favourable to you: sew something/it/them up: · I called the real estate agent. The contract's been sewn up, and we can move into the apartment next week.sew something up: · Bob reckons he can sew up the deal quite quickly but I'm not so sure.
also finalise British to do the last things that are necessary in order to settle an agreement, plan, or arrangement in a satisfactory way: · Mr Samuels is flying to Detroit to finalize the details and sign the contract.· Don't proceed any further with any plans or finalize any arrangements until you have proper authority.
to finish making a business agreement, especially where a large amount of money is involved: · The oil company has just succeeded in closing a deal for the land.
to stop arguing also make it up British especially spoken if two people who know each other well make up or make it up , they stop arguing and start being friendly to each other again: · I'm glad to see you two have made up.make up with: · Have you made it up with your sister yet?
if two people or organizations patch up or settle their differences , they stop arguing and discuss things in a sensible way until they come to an agreement: · Their final attempt to settle their differences ended in disappointment and separation.patch up your differences/settle your differences with: · Gary's first priority on his return home was to patch up his differences with his sister.
to agree to stop arguing and forgive each other, especially a long time after you first had the argument: · It's about time they buried the hatchet after all these years.· Since those two buried the hatchet, life in the office has been much quieter.
to talk calmly and seriously with someone about what you have been arguing about, in order to end the disagreement and feel better: · I think it's about time you called her to clear the air.· In an attempt to clear the air, Mills has planned a meeting with employees to discuss the issue.
behaving in a way that shows that you want to end an argument with someone: · The tone of my letter had been friendly and conciliatory, so I was disappointed by the cold reply I received.conciliatory gesture/message/tone etc: · American intelligence flights over Cuba had been stopped as a conciliatory gesture.
when two people, countries etc agree to stop arguing or fighting after a long period of disagreement, and have a friendly relationship again: · After years of fighting, there was now a spirit of national reconciliation in South Africa.reconciliation with: · Giles is not interested in a reconciliation with his father.reconciliation between: · A large group of demonstrators stayed up all night praying for reconciliation between the two countries.
to finally choose something after considering all the possibilities to finally choose something, especially when making the decision has been difficult or has taken a long time: · Have you decided on a name for the baby yet?· We couldn't decide on a new color for the kitchen, so we left it white.
if someone, especially a group of people, settles on something, they finally agree to choose that thing after considering all the possibilities, discussing it etc: · Hiroaki wanted white and I wanted black, so we settled on grey.· Can we at least settle on a date for our next meeting?· We finally settled on Miami as the site of our next conference.
British informal to choose one of two or more things after thinking carefully about it, especially if you have had difficulty in deciding: · They thought of going to Madeira or mainland Spain, but finally plumped for the Canary Islands.· She looked at every sweater in the shop before plumping for a red mohair one.
to choose something after thinking carefully about all the possibilities: opt for: · After college, Ruffin opted for the Army over college.opt to do something: · When her parents divorced, Mary Ann opted to live with her father.
to start to live in a place to start to live permanently in a country or city, after you have lived in several different places: settle in: · We lived in Thailand, then Singapore, and finally settled in Hong Kong.· The family settled in a small Nevada town where they opened a store.
to start to live in your own home for the first time, for example after getting married or leaving your parents' home: · They first set up house together in Atlanta and moved to Miami three years later.· He rarely left the Brooklyn apartment where he had set up house.set up house with: · Her parents were very upset when she set up house with her boyfriend.
formal to start to live in a country, city, or a building, especially in order to start working at a job: take up residence in: · He left the country in December to take up residence in Panama.take up residence at: · In 1953 Diem took up residence at a monastery in Belgium.
to pay back money that you owe someone to give someone back money that you have borrowed from them: pay somebody back: · I'll pay you back tomorrow.pay back something: · How are you going to pay back all that money?· He's paid back about half of what he owes us.pay back a loan/debt etc: · After graduation, the student must begin to pay back the loan.
to pay a large amount of money that you owe, especially to a bank: · The loan has to be repaid within two years.· There were doubts about the country's ability to repay the debt.· My parents lent me the money to buy a car, and I repaid them over the next year.
to finish paying back an amount of money that you have borrowed: pay off a debt/loan/mortgage etc: · The mortgage will be paid off over twenty-five years.· He paid off the loan six months early.pay a debt/loan/mortgage etc off: · The country hopes to pay all its debts off within twenty years.
to pay money that you owe, especially when you do not want to or when you are late paying it: · If they don't pay up we will take legal action.· The company paid up eventually, but only after repeated threats and reminders.
: settle an account/bill/loan etc to pay money that you owe someone - used especially in business contexts: · Please settle this account within two weeks.· I settled the bill and left the restaurant.
to finally pay all the money that you owe, after some time or with some difficulty: · This cheque should clear my overdraft.· We're hoping that we can clear all our debts by the end of the year.
to give back to someone the money that they paid for something, especially because they are not satisfied with what they bought or there is something wrong with it: · We'll give you a refund if you're not entirely satisfied.· It's the wrong size. Do you think they'll give me my money back?
formal to pay money to someone for something that they have had to pay for or have lost because of you: · Pay for the hotel room when you leave, and the company will reimburse you later.· He wouldn't let me reimburse him for the cost of his journey.· We pay for any repairs that need doing to the house, and are reimbursed by the landlord.
an amount of money that is paid back to you, especially because you have paid too much in taxes, rent etc. In American English a tax rebate is called a tax refund: · The Ford Citibank credit card offers a 5 percent rebate on the purchase of a new Ford car or truck.tax/rent rebate British: · We were delighted to hear that we were entitled to a tax rebate of over £1000.
to start doing something · We can't start until Carol gets here.· I'm starting a new job next week.· Have you started that book yet? (=started reading it)start doing something · I've just started learning German.· It was getting dark so we started looking for a place to stay the night.start to do something · Halfway through the performance, she started to feel a little faint.· Outside, it was starting to rain.
to start doing something. Begin is more formal than start and is used especially in written English: · Once the children were quiet, the teacher began.· They began their holiday in Italy, and then went on to Greece.begin to do something: · More and more people are beginning to do their shopping on-line.· "What do you mean?" she said, beginning to laugh.begin doing something: · The audience suddenly began shouting and cheering.
to finally start doing something, especially work, after you have been avoiding doing it or after something has prevented you from doing it: · Come on Sam - it's time you got down to some homework.get down to to doing something: · When the summer comes, we must get down to painting the outside of the house.get down to business: · OK, can everyone take a seat now, and we'll get down to business.
to start a piece of work that will take a fairly long time: · The exam was almost over and I hadn't even started on question 3.· It was time to start on all those little jobs around the house that he'd been putting off.· We can't start on the building work until planning permission comes through.
to start a long and fairly difficult piece of work, especially in an energetic and determined way: · Philip set about the task with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm.· Why don't we set to work really early, and try to get it finished in one day?set about/set to work doing something: · If there is a serious problem, it's far better to admit it and set about tackling it.set to work to do something: · Workmen had already set to work to clear the fallen trees.set to work on something: · Once in power, the government set to work on major reforms to the tax system.
to start doing something after you have finished doing something else: · Martin marched into the shop and proceeded to hurl abuse at the girl behind the counter.· After listening carefully to my advice, she proceeded to do the exact opposite!
to start doing something after a delay or interruption that has stopped you giving it your full attention: · After lunch the children settled down to finish their science projects.settle down to to doing something: · It was two o'clock before I could finally settle down to writing the next chapter.
to suddenly start a long speech or story, especially if you are criticizing something or giving an entertaining description of something: · Annie arrived late and immediately launched into a lengthy description of the terrible traffic on the roads.· At that point the young man stood up and launched into a passionate party-political speech.
to start a large piece of work or an important activity, especially one that will be difficult or will take a long time: · In the 1950s China embarked on a massive program of industrialization and mechanization.· After leaving his office job, he embarked upon a highly successful writing career.
to gradually start to like, fear, expect etc something over a period of time: · Rowling's latest book is full of all the magic and excitement that her young readers have come to expect.· At first I thought he was a bit strange, but I grew to like and respect him over the years.· My teacher said that this wasn't the kind of work that she'd come to expect of me.
spoken informal to start doing something immediately, because you are in a hurry or there is a lot to do: · Come on! - get cracking. I want this whole house clean by the time I get back.· You'd better get cracking if you want to get to the airport by ten.
to get used to a new job or way of life to gradually get used to a new place or a new way of life, so that you feel relaxed and confident: · Paul never really settled in at his last school.· We normally give new employees a little while to settle in before we overload them with responsibilities.settle into something: · It didn't take Charlie long to settle into his new job.· Within a month she had settled into a moderate exercise regimen.
to get used to a new type of work or a new way of life, especially one that is difficult at first and takes time to learn: · I asked Susie if I could stay with her till I found my feet.· This organization's role is to help refugees find their feet when they arrive in the host country.
to get used to a new place where you have come to live or work, especially so that you know where everything is: · Whenever I move into a new neighborhood I like to spend a couple of weeks just finding my way around.find your way around something: · The university campus is quite large and it takes new students a while to find their way around it.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYnouns Jack came back after five years to settle some old scores. I’m not going to settle for second best.
· Every effort was made to settle the dispute, without success.
· The city will pay $875,000 to settle the lawsuit.
· It is the area of pricing which may settle the question of which to buy.
(=agree to stop arguing)· The two recently met to settle their differences.
adverbs· The case was finally settled by the Appeal Court.
(=in a friendly way, without using a court of law)· The dispute was settled amicably.
phrases (=come to an agreement without going to a court of law)· She talked to a lawyer and settled out of court with her former employer.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=pay it)· She went down to the lobby to settle the bill for their rooms.
(=end it finally)· He paid a $15,000 fine to settle the case.
(=reach an agreement without using a court)· The matter was finally settled out of court.
formal (=pay the money back)· He was hoping he would soon have enough money to settle his debts.
(=find a way to make people agree)· Negotiations failed to resolve the disagreements.
(=end it)· It is hoped that the dispute can be resolved peacefully.
· The meeting will decide the fate of the factory.· The court’s decision settled Anderson’s fate.
(=solve one)· The union decided to settle its grievance in the law courts.
(=solve it)· The issue was settled after some tough negotiations.· No deadline has been set to resolve the issue.
(=to reach an agreement that stops a lawsuit)· I would prefer to settle the lawsuit out of court.
(=decide something)· They are meeting tonight to settle the matter.
(=make someone feel less worried or nervous)· She hoped that a cup of tea would soothe her nerves.
(=get into a routine without making any difficulty)· The team slipped quickly into a routine.
Jack came back after five years to settle some old scores. I’m not going to settle for second best. (=stays on the ground)· The snow was beginning to settle.
(=to stop it feeling uncomfortable)· The doctor gave me some tablets to settle my stomach.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· The shares opened at 76p and quickly soared to 96p before settling back to 81p.· With his weight settled back on the bed, Primo felt something in his back pocket.· In just a week or so, Antoinette wrote to Soeur Dosithée: she's settled back in very well.· When he took his hands away she settled back on the sheets, still clutching the spread.· That done he settled back, letting the young Prince speak.· At that time, diesel prices in California spiked briefly, but settled back down by the end of that year.· As she settled back down it continued to cook and burst into flames.· Oil prices then settled back to $ 17. 15 per barrel.
· Deep down we were full of emotion, but there was little sign of it as we settled down to our task.· Afterward, you settle down to an evening of state-of-the-art interactive entertainment.· I want at least four when I do finally settle down and get married.· I wanted to make sure I settled down and not rush through things.· In most cases the bulge settles down, as long as you have sufficient horizontal rest and take good care of your back.· But like a lot of his rowdy friends, he is settling down.· As I forlornly stood it upright on the table, Tam settled down opposite me.· Kathleen offered me the use of her office telephone and so, one morning, I settled down to make some enquiries.
· I want at least four when I do finally settle down and get married.· I finally settled on the idea of studying pharmacy.· But Geron and the Roslin scientists could at last assure investors that the patent question was finally settled.· Hashimoto finally settled on Wataru Kubo of the steadily disintegrating socialist party.· The position regarding administration orders over unregistered companies has not been finally settled by judicial decision.· The seismic jolt to Los Angeles home values appears to have finally settled down, way down.· Last week the government finally settled the case for the sum of $ 508m.· He finally settled on Reno, then the Dade Country, Fla., prosecutor.
· We were cooking for ourselves so we settled in for the evening and made ourselves comfortable.· For a long time Alvin refused to go upstairs to the little room where the company had settled in.· North west winds become sporadic, except in Sardinia, where the Mistral settles in.· Jody is pacing, arms crossed tightly over her chest, waiting for everyone to settle in.· The puppy will then settle in with relatively little difficulty as a member of the family.· Iris will be grateful I got you settled in.· He was only a ten minute walk from Mauve, who had promised to help him settle in.· It was certainly a strange quarter to have settled in.
· I settled on one of my favourites-a simple black dress.· The meditation program he settled on was an Eastern breath-counting exercise.· She settled on to a purple, cotton-covered couch.· Newsroom and management hopes have settled on Ann-Eve Pedersen, currently an assistant city editor.· If you really can't decide, settle on about five minutes.· But Clinton settled on Gore, the statesmanlike senator from Tennessee.· He finally settled on Reno, then the Dade Country, Fla., prosecutor.· Acting and horses were the only things I had settled on.
NOUN· Schellenberg settled the account and they went outside.· It will be an uneasy settling of accounts.· The line through 501 indicates that Mr R. James departed after lunch settling his account of £80.15 by Access credit card.· I merely called to settle Elise's account.· A note on discount Cash discounts A supplier may offer a cash discount to a retailer who settles his account promptly.· Anyone settling their account within twelve months had half the commission returned.
· It aims to treat all taxpayers with equal fairness and to settle their tax affairs impartially.· On Dec. 4 King Bhumibol made a highly unusual intervention and called on the two sides to settle the affair peacefully.
· Norms defining acceptable ways for settling an argument or dispute usually exclude physical violence and manslaughter.· I hope that all of us will take a lesson from it, to settle our arguments as quick as we can.· Interviewer: That would settle the arguments?· In controversy with his opponents, he regularly uses a quotation from the Old Testament to settle the argument.· The reference concerned a fight in the street between two youths to settle an argument.
· Please that this letter as confirmation that Oxford University Press will be settling their bills for room and breakfast.· It turned out he wanted me to settle my bill.· But then there was nothing left to pay the drivers or to settle the mounting bills.· But carrying large amounts of foreign currency to settle the bills is anything but a joy.· When I got back he was at the cashier's desk settling the bill.· I settled the bill - a pretty useful one, what with the line of brandies I had moodily consumed.· You pick up your gear and you settle your bill.· He settles all their Mess bills and buys them lavish presents.
· Last year the Department of the Environment was brought in to settle the case.· His epileptic client eventually settled his case against the company for a confidential amount.· However, he settled the case for an undisclosed sum in 1992.· The land claims commission has settled more than 11,000 cases by mutual agreement on compensation.· Last week the government finally settled the case for the sum of $ 508m.· The health authority agreed to settle the case just a week before it was due to go to court.· The tobacco industry has never paid damages or settled a liability case.
· She settled him in his chair, and was relieved to see that he seemed to be calming down a little.· Stillman settled slowly into his chair and at last turned his attention to Quinn.· When they came back, Nick settled into his chair and took up his book.· As soon as he settles into his chair, he returns all telephone calls.· With a little sigh, Caroline settled into a chair opposite and put her head back.· The room remained quiet as he settled into his chair, adjusted his robes and pulled the microphone close.· The first inalienable right of a trainee was to dawdle and amuse himself before he settled into his chair for the morning.· I settled into my chair and tried to sleep.
· In 1998 the federal government settled 220 claims involving priests and nuns who had been convicted of criminal abuse.· It had set aside $ 24 million to settle claims by former managers that it had failed to pay required overtime.· If the courts were to try to settle each claim on a case-by-case basis, it could take for ever.· He approached the conference sponsors with a proposition: He would settle his claim without a suit for twenty-six thousand dollars.· In all, London Underground has settled 60 out of 80 claims arising out of the disaster, to the tune of £2m.· But they face the sale of most of the rest of their property in order to settle creditors' claims.· Strenuous efforts were made last weekend to settle the outstanding claim of the town of Seveso itself.
· Preston says the tribe is looking at a precedent set in a similar incident litigated and settled out of court.· Others have been settled out of court.· In frustration, she talked to a lawyer and settled out of court with her former employer.· The suit was settled out of court.· The two sides announced that they had settled out of court.· Riney countersued her for slander, and the two settled out of court.
· I'd like to whisk her away on my white charger, but I have to settle my debts first.· Another gives generously yet never settles his debts.· Tam again settled his debts, and again found himself with virtually nothing left.· The settling of Tam's debts turned out to be less difficult than I had expected.· It's for him to come down here and settle his debts, like everybody else in the valley.· On his return, he borrowed money from Harriet to settle debts from his continental fling.
· Having settled her differences, she gave my hand a tentative lick.· Clearly, however, we are never going to settle our religious differences with respect to education through the political process.· It is that they are not talking because they see no way to settle their differences.· No Boston painter would have attempted to settle an aesthetic difference like Luks did when he punched Edmund Tarbell in the jaw.· But Lissovsky's biggest problem is to persuade the gangsters who frequent the club to settle their differences elsewhere.· We have to settle our differences and come together as one.· The warring sides finally came face-to-face at a meeting designed to help them settle their differences.· Finding nonviolent ways of settling differences between diverse groups of interests is the essence of democracy.
· Pragmatism is essentially a method of settling philosophical disputes by tracing their practical consequences.· The army supervised the elections of 1867 and 1868 and was called in from time to time thereafter to settle scattered disputes.· My guess was that they would find their way into the press and would undermine our efforts to settle the health dispute.· Mercy and others who track violence see two disturbing trends, also reflected locally: Guns increasingly are used to settle disputes.· We will consult on a Lay Adjudicators scheme to make it easier for citizens to settle disputes with service providers.· The figures alone, however, are unlikely to settle the ongoing disputes and passions around immigration.· Both sides are under mounting public pressure to settle the three-week dispute.· The companies said they would not pay the fines as long as talks aimed at settling the dispute continued.
· Pleased with the way dust has settled on the sieves.· As the dust settles, significant advances can be seen in three areas.· The car sits there while the dust settles, shimmering in the sun.· The soil where the bombs fell had been pulverised into black dust that had settled on everything.· They waited for the dust to settle, then rolled down the windows.· When the dust settles, we are the enforcers, the last line of law.· As the dust settles a chart in the back of the room catches my eye.
· The less well-to-do may encourage early marriage and give priority to settling down to stable family life.· There are innumerable girls from Shishu Bhawans who are now well settled, with happy families of their own.· But Familymakers believes with proper emotional support most of them could and should settle into a new family.· Younger black families were moving up from Watts and settling by working-class white families newly arrived from the South and the Midwest.· In her search for herself, she had settled on these two family figures to pattern herself after.· A N Wilson is settling for the Royal Family.· Pat had returned to London two years earlier, unable to settle with her genteel family in Chard.
· Difficult as it may be, he should attempt to settle more delicate issues.· Naturally, a committee was formed to settle the issue.· Next month's High Court judgement may settle the issue one way or the other.· Hughes's resignation appears to settle that issue.· However, the remedy did not settle the issue, and at the 1899 Brno Congress it was again in hot dispute.· Abrams and his co-researchers, veterans of dozens of successful studies, pushed hard to settle the issue.· What settled the issue was the rise of the pomeshchiks.· The Maryland decision, however, did not settle the issue.
· BJohnson-Meszoras said that if the federal government finalizes its approval, settling her clients' lawsuit will become more difficult.· Wright State has settled a lawsuit filed by Ralph Underhill agreeing to pay the former basketball coach about $ 125, 000.· Meanwhile Microsoft settled one anti-trust lawsuit with an estimated payment to the software company Caldera of $ 275m.· Stevens International Inc. said it agreed in principle to settle a class-action shareholder lawsuit against it.
· The incentive to settle and clear the matter up quickly is significant.· The state steadfastly refused to settle this matter at any time.· But one crucial detail settles the matter.· Once that was settled, matters took a turn toward the peculiar.· Such excellent timing does not settle the matter, however.· It was clear to him now that any hope of settling the longitude matter lay in the stars.· Where policy has to be settled over such matters as public health or education, statistical and factual material is needed.· Let us settle these delicate matters between ourselves.
· It remained for one of the great investigators of the Laboulbeniales to settle the question of their true affinities.· Brains, property and character of the Negro will settle the question of civil rights.· Indeed, it is the area of pricing which may settle the question of which to buy.· The first question sounds like a properly scientific one; and indeed Dawkins implies that it is a settled scientific question.· What I learnt of the Al Fayeds settled one question but raised another.· But settling questions of language use is the job of pragmatics-the study of the use of language in context.· Computer-assisted studies of style have often attempted to settle questions of chronology in the work of authors whose works are undated.· That will settle any question about my tumorigenesis theory.
· This was my charge, and I have a score to settle.· Old resentments were now being given scope; scores were being settled.· She was riding with a score to settle.· The invitations went out regularly every week; now the score was never settled.· She had a score to settle, I grant her that.· On 18 January 1985 there were plenty of old scores to settle.· Second, I have a score to settle with World Security.· Morrissey had another score to settle.
VERB· The flies are allowed to settle on the surface and are left to their own devices.· The remaining fragments are allowed to settle to the bottom and then siphoned out.· The solution is then returned to the original temperature and the precipitate which reforms is allowed to settle and then separated.· However, wait a while you must, to allow the dust to settle.· Miserably she allowed him to settle her in the taxi.· It is always a good idea to keep cakes for at least a day before cutting them to allow the contents to settle.· It also allowed the rocket to settle under the stresses produced by the mass of propellant.· She wouldn't do it at the time, because she felt the whole issue ought to be allowed to settle down.
· Slowly dusk began to settle into darkness.· Other walls began to settle too.· Dusk broods, begins to settle but here, up high, a lake of last light trembles round her.· Lore will never forget her first meeting with Miss Harder: After a few months the three girls began to settle down.· As you know, blood begins to settle in the lowest part of the body as soon as the heart stops pumping it around.· The pavement was crowded and people had the cheerful look that comes when Spring begins to settle in.· Then his own wife and daughter joined him in Hollywood, and he began to settle down again.· After tea, Miandad began settling the score with Salisbury, the young legspinner who had dismissed him at Lord's.
· Occasionally - leaving any ethical questions aside - taped evidence can help to settle a point in dispute.· He was only a ten minute walk from Mauve, who had promised to help him settle in.· The warring sides finally came face-to-face at a meeting designed to help them settle their differences.· So Grandma went home, my parents making the journey to help her to settle in.· The government found it very difficult to persuade communities to help settle the Palatines.· Emilio took some time off to help them settle in.· The use of plants is recommended as they help settle the catfish down and provide spawning sites.· Sometimes the wasp may even insert a small twig into the soil and jiggle it about to help settle the material.
· Far from leaping from his chair and seizing Pearce by the throat, a curious fatigue seemed to have settled in his bones.· Congress now seems inclined to settle temporarily for a catch-all budget measure that would freeze federal spending at current levels.· Then, just when it seemed to have settled, it made a sharp sideways movement, tugging against the halter.· As the hour wore on, a kind of trance seemed to settle over the action.· She reached out to touch the surface, aware of a chill that seemed to have settled around her.· By 1920 it was 10 per cent, and it seems to have settled at about this figure.· The minutes ticked by, and the house seemed to settle for sleep.· He seems to have settled in my San Francisco neighborhood.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► somebody’s eyes/gaze settles on somebody/something► settle something on somebodyPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle
1end argument [intransitive, transitive] to end an argument or solve a disagreementsettle a dispute/lawsuit/conflict/argument etc- Boudjema believes that the opposition parties are settling a score with the Socialist government and using the schoolgirls as a scapegoat.
- Schiavo certainly deserves no credit for scaring people needlessly just to settle a score.
- As she settled back down it continued to cook and burst into flames.
- At that time, diesel prices in California spiked briefly, but settled back down by the end of that year.
- Before she could say any more, he settled the helmet down over his head and fastened the strap.
- Find a doctor, maybe; something to settle him down.
- He settled his weight down on the step beside her and dwelt anxiously on her state.
- He nods stiffly, then settles his chin down on his chest, scowling.
- Try to settle the puppy down here before going to bed.
- We wound up taking him for long rides in the car to settle him down.
- Oh, I heard plenty of rumours, but they were nearly all based on settling old scores.
- There was no place like the thick of battle for settling an old score.
- With the championship having been decided, this was likely to be their last chance to settle old scores.
- She's got a few old scores to settle with her former friend.
- Stanford settled an old score Friday by defeating Siena 94-72.
- Boudjema believes that the opposition parties are settling a score with the Socialist government and using the schoolgirls as a scapegoat.
- Schiavo certainly deserves no credit for scaring people needlessly just to settle a score.
Rodman met with Kreeger to try and settle the dispute over his contract. We hope the factions will be able to settle their differences (=agree to stop arguing) by peaceful means. Forensic tests should settle the question of whether Bates was actually present at the scene of the crime.settle with She finally settled with her former employers for an undisclosed sum. They might be willing to settle out of court (=come to an agreement without going to a court of law).2decide [transitive usually passive] to decide what you are going to do, especially so that you can make definite arrangements: Nothing’s settled yet. It’s settled then. I’ll go back to the States in June. ‘She’s only 15.’ ‘That settles it (=that is enough information for a definite decision to be made)! We’re not taking her with us!’3start living in a place a)[intransitive, transitive] to go to a place where no people have lived permanently before and start to live there: This territory was settled in the mid-1850s by German immigrants.GRAMMAR Settle is usually passive in this meaning, when used as a transitive verb. b)[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to go to live in a new place, and stay there for a long timesettle in Many Jewish people settled in the Lower East Side.4comfortable [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put yourself or someone else in a comfortable positionsettle yourself in/on etc something Donna did not dare settle herself too comfortably into her seat, in case she fell asleep. The dog settled on the grass to enjoy its bone. A nurse settled the old man into a chair. → settle back5quiet/calm [intransitive, transitive] (also settle down) to become quiet and calm, or to make someone quiet and calm: When the children had settled, Miss Brown gave out the new reading books. She breathed deeply to settle her nerves (=stop herself from feeling worried or frightened).6move down [intransitive] a)if dust, snow etc settles, it comes down and stays in one placesettle on Snow settled on the roofs. b)if a bird, insect etc settles, it flies down and rests on somethingsettle on A fly kept trying to settle on his face. c)if something such as a building or the ground settles, it sinks slowly to a lower level: The crack in the wall is caused by the ground settling.7pay money [intransitive, transitive] to pay money that is owedsettle a bill/account/claim I always settle my account in full each month. These insurance companies take forever to settle a claim.settle with He was able to settle with his creditors, and avoid going to jail.8organize business/money [transitive] to deal with all the details of a business or of someone’s money or property, so that nothing further needs to be done: When it is finally settled, the Marshall estate may be worth no more than $100,000. After her husband’s death, Jackie went to the city to settle his affairs.9settle a score/account to do something to hurt or cause trouble for someone because they have harmed or offended you: Did he have any enemies – someone with an old score to settle?10somebody’s eyes/gaze settles on somebody/something written if your eyes settle on someone or something, you notice them and look at them for a period of time: Her gaze settled on a door, and she wondered what was on the other side of it.11feeling/quality [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a quality or feeling settles over a place or person, it begins and has a strong effectsettle over/on An uneasy silence settled over the room. Depression settled over her like a heavy black cloud.12expression [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a particular expression settles on your face, it stays there: A disapproving frown settled on her face.13stomach [intransitive, transitive] if your stomach settles, or if something settles it, it stops feeling uncomfortable or making you sick: Georgia had taken pills to settle her stomach, but she was still throwing up every hour. → let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle at dust1(5)COLLOCATIONSnounssettle a dispute/argument/conflict· Every effort was made to settle the dispute, without success.settle a lawsuit/case· The city will pay $875,000 to settle the lawsuit.settle a question/matter· It is the area of pricing which may settle the question of which to buy.settle your differences (=agree to stop arguing)· The two recently met to settle their differences.adverbssettle something finally/eventually· The case was finally settled by the Appeal Court.settle something amicably (=in a friendly way, without using a court of law)· The dispute was settled amicably.phrasessettle out of court (=come to an agreement without going to a court of law)· She talked to a lawyer and settled out of court with her former employer.settle back phrasal verb to lean back in a bed or chair, and relax and enjoy yourself: Vera settled back to enjoy the film.settle down phrasal verb1settle (somebody) down to become quiet and calm, or to make someone quiet and calm: Shh! Settle down, please! Now turn to page 57. When Kyle was a baby, we used to take him for rides in the car to settle him down.2to start living a quiet and calm life in one place, especially when you get married: They’d like to see their daughter settle down, get married, and have kids.3to start giving all of your attention to a job or activitysettle down to I sorted out my mail, then settled down to some serious work.4if a situation settles down, it becomes calmer and you are less busy or less worried: It’s been really hectic here. When things settle down, I’ll give you a call.settle for something phrasal verb to accept something even though it is not the best, or not what you really want: They want $2,500 for it, but they might settle for $2,000.GRAMMAR Settle for is never passive.settle in (also settle into something) phrasal verb to begin to feel happy and relaxed in a new situation, home, job, or school: How’s your new home? Are you settling in OK? It takes a few months to settle into life at college.settle on/upon somebody/something phrasal verb1to decide or agree on something: They haven’t settled on a name for the baby yet.2settle something on somebody British English formal to make a formal arrangement to give money or property to someone: She settled a small yearly sum on each of her children.settle up phrasal verb to pay what you owe on an account or bill: We settled up and checked out of the hotel.settle up with I’ll settle up with the bartender, then let’s go.