settle1

[set-l] /ˈsɛt l/
verb (used with object), settled, settling.
1.
to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively; agree upon (as time, price, or conditions).
2.
to place in a desired state or in order:
to settle one's affairs.
3.
to pay, as a bill.
4.
to close (an account) by payment.
5.
to migrate to and organize (an area, territory, etc.); colonize:
The pilgrims settled Plymouth.
6.
to cause to take up residence:
They settled immigrants in urban areas.
7.
to furnish (a place) with inhabitants or settlers:
The French settled this colony with army veterans.
8.
to quiet, calm, or bring to rest (the nerves, stomach, etc.).
9.
to stop from annoying or opposing:
A sharp word will settle that youngster.
10.
to conclude or resolve:
to settle a dispute.
11.
to make stable; place in a permanent position or on a permanent basis.
12.
to cause (a liquid) to become clear by depositing dregs.
13.
to cause (dregs, sediment, etc.) to sink or be deposited.
14.
to cause to sink down gradually; make firm or compact.
15.
to dispose of finally; close up:
to settle an estate.
16.
Law.
  1. to secure (property, title, etc.) on or to a person by formal or legal process.
  2. to terminate (legal proceedings) by mutual consent of the parties.
verb (used without object), settled, settling.
17.
to decide, arrange, or agree (often followed by on or upon):
to settle on a plan of action.
18.
to arrange matters in dispute; come to an agreement:
to settle with a person.
19.
to pay a bill; make a financial arrangement (often followed by up).
20.
to take up residence in a new country or place:
Many Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi River following La Salle's explorations.
21.
to come to rest, as from flight:
A bird settled on a bough.
22.
to gather, collect, or become fixed in a particular place, direction, etc.:
A cold settled in my head.
23.
to become calm or composed (often followed by down):
I'll wait until the class settles before starting the lesson.
24.
to come to rest (often followed by down):
We settled down for the night at an old country inn.
25.
to sink down gradually; subside.
26.
to become clear by the sinking of suspended particles, as a liquid.
27.
to sink to the bottom, as sediment.
28.
to become firm or compact, as the ground.
29.
(of a female animal) to become pregnant; conceive.
Verb phrases
30.
settle down,
  1. to become established in some routine, especially upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
  2. to become calm or quiet.
  3. to apply oneself to serious work:
    There were so many distractions that we weren't able to settle down to studying.
31.
settle for, to be satisfied with:
to settle for less.
32.
settle into, to become established in:
to settle into a new routine.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English set(t)len, Old English setlan (attested once) to place, derivative of setl settle2; compare Dutch zetelen
Related forms
settleable, adjective
settleability, noun
settledness, noun
quasi-settled, adjective
unsettleable, adjective
well-settled, adjective
Synonyms
1. set, establish. 4. liquidate. 6. relocate. 7. people, colonize. 9. tranquilize, compose, still, pacify. 11. stabilize, establish, confirm. 20. locate, relocate. 25. decline, fall, abate.

settle2

[set-l] /ˈsɛt l/
noun
1.
a long seat or bench, usually wooden, with arms and a high back.
Origin
before 900; Middle English: seat, sitting place, Old English setl; cognate with German Sessel armchair, Gothic sitls seat, Latin sella saddle; akin to sit1
Examples from the web for settle
  • Jail time for some of these rogue cops would help settle the rest of them down.
  • Basically, it is a little home for all the different species to settle in.
  • So as sunset sweeps across the sky, settle down to listen to the fire crackle and watch its glow light up the faces around you.
  • The leaves across the small lake were beginning to change as fall was starting to settle in.
  • They'll try out recipes the students have brought from home and then settle down for dinner and conversation.
  • Food prices will settle at a higher level, or fall back.
  • We should never settle for saying that such-and-such is a brute fact so let's go home now.
  • The family, determined to prove what it believes was negligence, has resisted attempts to settle.
  • One would think that this dispute should be fairly easy to settle by looking at the empirical evidence.
  • The bison's thick, shaggy coat is so well insulated that snow can settle on its back without melting.
British Dictionary definitions for settle

settle1

/ˈsɛtəl/
verb
1.
(transitive) to put in order; arrange in a desired state or condition: he settled his affairs before he died
2.
to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable position: he settled himself by the fire
3.
(intransitive) to come to rest or a halt: a bird settled on the hedge
4.
to take up or cause to take up residence: the family settled in the country
5.
to establish or become established in a way of life, job, residence, etc
6.
(transitive) to migrate to and form a community; colonize
7.
to make or become quiet, calm, or stable
8.
(intransitive) to be cast or spread; come down: fog settled over a wide area
9.
to make (a liquid) clear or (of a liquid) to become clear; clarify
10.
to cause (sediment) to sink to the bottom, as in a liquid, or (of sediment) to sink thus
11.
to subside or cause to subside and become firm or compact: the dust settled
12.
(sometimes foll by up) to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)
13.
(transitive) to decide, conclude, or dispose of: to settle an argument
14.
(intransitive; often foll by on or upon) to agree or fix: to settle upon a plan
15.
(transitive; 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
16.
to determine (a legal dispute, etc) by agreement of the parties without resort to court action (esp in the phrase settle out of court)
See also settle down, settle for, settle in, settle with
Derived Forms
settleable, adjective
Word Origin
Old English setlan; related to Dutch zetelen; see settle²

settle2

/ˈsɛtəl/
noun
1.
a seat, for two or more people, usually made of wood with a high back and arms, and sometimes having a storage space in the boxlike seat
Word Origin
Old English setl; related to Old Saxon, Old High German sezzal
Word Origin and History for settle
v.

"come to rest," Old English setlan "cause to sit, place, put," from setl "a seat" (see settle (n.)). Related: Settling. Cf. German siedeln "to settle, colonize."

From c.1300 of birds, etc., "to alight." From early 14c. as "sink down, descend; cave in." Early 15c. in reference to suspended particles in a liquid. Sense of "establish a permanent residence" first recorded 1620s; that of "decide" is 1620s. Meaning "secure title to by deed" is from 1660s.

Meaning "reconcile" (a quarrel, differences, etc.) perhaps is influenced by Middle English sahtlen "to reconcile," from Old English saht "reconciliation," from Old Norse satt "reconciliation." To settle down "become content" is from 1853; transitive sense from 1520s; as what married couples do in establishing domesticity, from 1718. To settle for "content oneself with" is from 1943.

n.

"long bench," 1550s, from Middle English setle "a seat," from Old English setl "a seat, stall; position, abode; setting of a heavenly body," related to sittan "to sit," from Proto-Germanic *setla- (cf. Middle Low German, Middle Dutch setel, Dutch zetel, German Sessel, Gothic sitls), from PIE *sedla- (cf. Latin sella "seat, chair," Old Church Slavonic sedlo "saddle," Old English sadol "saddle"), from root *sed- (1) "to sit" (see sedentary).

Slang definitions & phrases for settle

settle

verb

To imprison, esp for a life sentence: Foley was ''pinched'' and ''settled'' in San Quentin (1899+)


Encyclopedia Article for settle

long wooden bench with backrest and arms, designed to seat several people. Originating in Europe in the 10th century, it was apparently derived from the chest, a resemblance often retained, with additional elements based on the monastic choir stall. It could be used for a variety of purposes: as a seat, a bed, a chest, and, in examples with a hinged backrest that can be turned down to rest on the arms, a table. Other additions to the basic shape were a footrest and sconces at the side or back to accommodate candles. The height of the backrest varied considerably and sometimes extended down to the floor. Both back and sides were usually paneled or ornamented (or both) with traditional carved patterns

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