settling

[ set-ling, -l-ing ]

/ ˈsɛt lɪŋ, -l ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR settling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person or thing that settles.

Usually settlings. sediment.

Origin of settling

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at settle¹, -ing¹

Words nearby settling

settlement houses, settlement option, settlement worker, settler, settler's clock, settling, settling tank, settlings, settlor, setula, setulose

Definition for settling (2 of 2)

settle ¹

[ set-l ]

/ ˈsɛt l /

verb (used with object), set·tled, set·tling.

to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively; agree upon (as time, price, or conditions).

to place in a desired state or in order: to settle one's affairs.

to pay, as a bill.

to close (an account) by payment.

to migrate to and organize (an area, territory, etc.); colonize: The pilgrims settled Plymouth.

to cause to take up residence: They settled immigrants in urban areas.

to furnish (a place) with inhabitants or settlers: The French settled this colony with army veterans.

to quiet, calm, or bring to rest (the nerves, stomach, etc.).

to stop from annoying or opposing: A sharp word will settle that youngster.

to conclude or resolve: to settle a dispute.

to make stable; place in a permanent position or on a permanent basis.

to cause (a liquid) to become clear by depositing dregs.

to cause (dregs, sediment, etc.) to sink or be deposited.

to cause to sink down gradually; make firm or compact.

to dispose of finally; close up: to settle an estate.

Law.

to secure (property, title, etc.) on or to a person by formal or legal process.
to terminate (legal proceedings) by mutual consent of the parties.

verb (used without object), set·tled, set·tling.

to decide, arrange, or agree (often followed by on or upon): to settle on a plan of action.

to arrange matters in dispute; come to an agreement: to settle with a person.

to pay a bill; make a financial arrangement (often followed by up).

to take up residence in a new country or place: Many Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi River following La Salle's explorations.

to come to rest, as from flight: A bird settled on a bough.

to gather, collect, or become fixed in a particular place, direction, etc.: A cold settled in my head.

to become calm or composed (often followed by down): I'll wait until the class settles before starting the lesson.

to come to rest (often followed by down): We settled down for the night at an old country inn.

to sink down gradually; subside.

to become clear by the sinking of suspended particles, as a liquid.

to sink to the bottom, as sediment.

to become firm or compact, as the ground.

(of a female animal) to become pregnant; conceive.

Verb Phrases

settle down,

to become established in some routine, especially upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
to become calm or quiet.
to apply oneself to serious work: There were so many distractions that we weren't able to settle down to studying.

settle for, to be satisfied with: to settle for less.

settle into, to become established in: to settle into a new routine.

Origin of settle

before 1000; Middle English set(t)len, Old English setlan (attested once) to place, derivative of setl settle²; compare Dutch zetelen

SYNONYMS FOR settle

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR settle ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM settle

set·tle·a·ble, adjective set·tle·a·bil·i·ty, noun set·tled·ness, noun qua·si-set·tled, adjective

un·set·tle·a·ble, adjective well-set·tled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for settling

The stench of corruption is settling over world soccer like a poisonous fog, and players are paying the price.

Is Soccer Great Lionel Messi Corrupt? |Jack Holmes |December 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Some 7,000 Confederates set sail for Brazil in the aftermath of the American Civil War, settling in a city called Americana.

The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, July 13, 2014 | |July 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Yet, bloodthirstiness is not the objective of vengeance; getting even and settling the score most certainly is.

Numbers Don’t Tell the Mideast Story |Thane Rosenbaum |July 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Settling over wilderness areas everywhere, like a deadly fog, is the scourge of our time: global warming.

American Wilderness Faces the Firing Squad |Doug Peacock |July 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

After a year and a half of eighty-hour weeks, writing, editing, settling squabbles, he was all but burned out.

Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National Lampoon |Robert Sam Anson |March 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He obeyed, settling her among the pillows with infinite tenderness.

A Man's Hearth |Eleanor M. Ingram
Things are settling down, and we shall soon feel at home in our new residence.

Around The Tea-Table |T. De Witt Talmage
"Well, put the kid's hat on then," George suggested, settling his own with some care at the mantel mirror.

The Story Of Julia Page |Kathleen Norris
I'm only twenty-two—nobody thinks of settling down nowadays before she's twenty-five at the very earliest.

The Imperialist |(a.k.a. Mrs. Everard Cotes) Sara Jeannette Duncan
Every one knows he isn't capable of settling anything by himself.

The Cathedral |Sir Hugh Walpole

British Dictionary definitions for settling (1 of 2)

settle ¹

/ (ˈsɛtəl) /

verb

(tr) to put in order; arrange in a desired state or condition he settled his affairs before he died

to arrange or be arranged in a fixed or comfortable position he settled himself by the fire

(intr) to come to rest or a halt a bird settled on the hedge

to take up or cause to take up residence the family settled in the country

to establish or become established in a way of life, job, residence, etc

(tr) to migrate to and form a community; colonize

to make or become quiet, calm, or stable

(intr) to be cast or spread; come down fog settled over a wide area

to make (a liquid) clear or (of a liquid) to become clear; clarify

to cause (sediment) to sink to the bottom, as in a liquid, or (of sediment) to sink thus

to subside or cause to subside and become firm or compact the dust settled

(sometimes foll by up) to pay off or account for (a bill, debt, etc)

(tr) to decide, conclude, or dispose of to settle an argument

(intr; often foll by on or upon) to agree or fix to settle upon a plan

(tr; 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

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 of settle

settleable, adjective

Word Origin for settle

Old English setlan; related to Dutch zetelen; see settle ²

British Dictionary definitions for settling (2 of 2)

settle ²

/ (ˈsɛtəl) /

noun

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 for settle

Old English setl; related to Old Saxon, Old High German sezzal

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

settling

noun

Origin of settling

Words nearby settling

Definition for settling (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), set·tled, set·tling.

verb (used without object), set·tled, set·tling.

Verb Phrases

Origin of settle

SYNONYMS FOR settle

OTHER WORDS FROM settle

Example sentences from the Web for settling

British Dictionary definitions for settling (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of settle

Word Origin for settle

British Dictionary definitions for settling (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for settle

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

settling

noun

Origin of settling

Words nearby settling

Definition for settling (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), set·tled, set·tling.

verb (used without object), set·tled, set·tling.

Verb Phrases

Origin of settle

SYNONYMS FOR settle

OTHER WORDS FROM settle

Words related to settling

Example sentences from the Web for settling

British Dictionary definitions for settling (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of settle

Word Origin for settle

British Dictionary definitions for settling (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for settle