| 释义 |
set·tle
I. \ˈsed.əl, -etəl\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English setle, settil, settle, from Old English setl; akin to Old High German sezzal seat, chair, Gothic sitls seat, Latin sella seat, chair, saddle, Gaulish sedlon seat, Old English sittan to sit — more at sit
1. obsolete : a place for sitting; also : chief place of abode : seat
2.
a. : a wooden bench with arms, a high solid back sometimes extending to the floor, and often an enclosed foundation serving as a chest whose cover is the seat — see box settle, table settle
b. : settee
3. : a raised platform, shelf, or frame; specifically : a ledge about the lower part of an altar
4. [settle (II) ]
a. : action or result of settling or sinking
< sand boils, bubbles, slides, and settles … threaten to wipe out all efforts — Time >
b. : the shrinkage measured in height of a kiln of brick when burning
 [settle 2a]
II. verb
(settled ; settled ; settling \-d.əliŋ, -t(ə)liŋ\ ; settles)
Etymology: Middle English setlen, settlen, from Old English setlan, from setl, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : to cause to sit : seat
b. : to place so as to remain or to be comfortable
< settled himself in an armchair >
< settle a child in its crib >
c. : to direct or apply the attention, will, or effort of (oneself)
< the class settled itself to work >
2.
a. : to establish in residence
< settle refugees on farmland >
b. : to furnish with inhabitants : colonize, plant
< the colony was first settled by the Dutch >
< a region settled by recent emigrants >
c. : to establish (as residence) permanently
d. : to establish in married life
< managed to settle all his daughters >
e. obsolete : to set up (as a business) in a particular place
f. archaic : to establish in a pastoral office
3.
a. : to make (loose material) compact : consolidate
< settle the contents of a bag by shaking it >
< watering the soil to settle it as the hole was filled in >
b. : to restore (a road or lawn) or bring to a smooth, dry, or passable condition
c. : to reduce in height or to a lower level
< settle a deck >
< settle a sail >
d. : to cause (land) to appear lower — opposed to raise
e. : to clear of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink : render pure or clear
< put eggshells in the coffee to settle it >
4.
a. : to stop by killing or stunning
< settled his enemy with a single blow >
b. : to reduce to order or to good behavior : silence
< a word from his father was enough to settle him >
5. : to change from disturbance and agitation to repose and tranquillity
< a drink to settle his nerves >
< she gave them ten seconds to settle their faces — Virginia Woolf >
< the bump on the head must have settled my brain — S.H.Adams >
6.
a. : to put in a fixed or permanent state
< settle the order of royal succession >
: make firm or stable
< settle the government on a parliamentary basis >
< both English and French have been settled in their present form roughly since the eighteenth century — Times Literary Supplement >
b. : to resolve or judge finally : remove from uncertainty, unclarity or dispute
< time has settled few or none of the essential points of dispute — Henry Adams >
c. : to put in order : adjust
< settled her patient's pillows >
< always removed or settled their hats with both hands — E.A.Poe >
7.
a. : to fix (as a price) by mutual agreement
b. : to conclude (a lawsuit) by agreement between the parties usually out of court
c. : to close (as an account) by payment : liquidate; often : to close by compromise and payment of less than full amount claimed or due
8. : to secure (a right or an estate) to someone by legal form
< settled her whole fortune on her nephew >
< the family estate is usually settled on the eldest son >
— compare settlement
9.
a. : to arrange for proper disposal of on death
< settle an estate >
b. : to put in order
< settled his affairs before entering the army >
10. of an animal : to impregnate or cause to conceive — distinguished from serve
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to come to rest from flight : alight
< the flock settled on the meadow >
< a fly settled on the ceiling >
b. : to descend usually slowly and stay down or over
< mists settling in the valley >
< dust had settled on the furniture >
< a pall of silence settled over the room >
2.
a. : to fall slowly to the bottom
< waiting for the coffee grounds to settle >
— often used with out
< suspended pigment … is allowed to settle out — H.J.Wolfe >
b. : to become clear after being turbid or roiled : clarify by depositing sediment or scum
< let the wine settle for a while before pouring >
c. of ground : to become firm, dry, and hard after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared
3. : to separate in the soapmaking process into layers of neat soap, nigre, and lye on standing after fitting
4.
a. : to sink gradually to a lower level : subside
< cracks appeared in the walls as the foundations settled >
b. of a ship : to become steadily more submerged
< settling fast by the stern >
5.
a. : to become established in a fixed location or direction
< the wind has settled in the east >
< a cold settled in her chest >
b. : to become fixed or permanent : assume a lasting form or condition
< settling gracefully into old age >
< his mood had settled into a dull apathy >
< his expression settled into a permanent frown >
< it is settling in to rain now >
6.
a. : to establish one's residence — often used with down
< his sons had married and settled down nearby >
b. : to establish an abode or colony abroad
< the Germans who settled in Pennsylvania >
7.
a. : to direct successfully the attention, will, or effort : apply oneself — usually used with down
< settled down to study >
< settled down to a steady canter >
b. of a hunting dog : to become fixed on a scent
8.
a. : to become calm : cease from agitation
< settle into a relaxed attitude >
< settle into sleep >
b. : to take up an ordered way of life; especially : to assume the duties and restrictions of the married state — usually used with down
< time to marry and settle down >
9.
a. : to adjust differences or accounts : come to an agreement : compound
< settle with creditors >
— often used with up
< settle up after a poker game >
b. : resolve — used with on or upon
< after much discussion settled on the plan originally proposed >
< unable to settle on which hat to buy >
10. : to become pastor of a church : take over a parish, church, or congregation
11. of a female animal : to become pregnant : conceive
Synonyms: see calm, decide, set
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- settle accounts
- settle for
- settle halyards
- settle one's hash
- settle order
- settle the stomach |