Definition of "settle"

To conclude or resolve (something):

1. (transitive) To determine (something which was exposed to doubt or question); to resolve conclusively; to set or fix (a time, an order of succession, etc).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • It is a Pamphlet, [...] It will ſettle the Wavering, confirm the Doubtful, inſtruct the Ignorant, inflame the Clamorous, though it never be once looked into.

     1714 February, [Jonathan Swift], The Publick Spirit of the Whigs: Set forth in Their Generous Encouragement of the Author of the Crisis: […], 3rd edition, London: […] [John Barber] for John Morphew, […], published 1714, page 4

2. (transitive) To conclude, to cause (a dispute) to finish.

   1. (transitive) In particular, to terminate (a lawsuit), usually out of court, by agreement of all parties.  examples

3. (transitive) To close, liquidate or balance (an account) by payment, sometimes of less than is owed or due.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The coffee was only surface wet and looked worse than it actually was and as he returned to the Reception Desk to settle his account and give back his room key, he was met again by the young man who was still wearing his rucksack.

     2012, Paul Kelly, Willie Blair: A Tale of True Loss and Sadness

4. (transitive, colloquial) To pay (a bill).  examples

5. (intransitive) To adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement on matters in dispute.  examples

6. (intransitive) To conclude a lawsuit by agreement of the parties rather than a decision of a court.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Of course, certainty is a value in all systems of conflict of laws—including those of the United States. Certainty for litigants decreases litigation and transaction costs and increases the chances that cases will settle.

     2010, Clay H. Kaminsky, “The Rome II Regulation: A Comparative Perspective on Federalizing Choice of Law”, in Tulane Law Review, volume 85, number 1, page 79

(transitive) To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).

1. (transitive) To put into (proper) place; to make sit or lie properly.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • She twisted out from under the claim of his palm to settle her feet on the floor.

     2012, Nancy Gideon, Seeker of Shadows

   • Pausing only to settle his cloak and set his Regent's circlet on his hair, he strode to the rail and waited.

     2002, Tom Deitz, Warautumn, page 53

2. (transitive) To cause to no longer be in a disturbed, confused or stormy; to quiet; to calm (nerves, waters, a boisterous or rebellious child, etc).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake, / And Tenedos we reach'd; [...]

     1614–1615, Homer, “The Third Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume I, London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, page 54, lines 209–210

   • [I]t drawing towards night, and they hoping that ſleep might ſettle his brains, with all haſt they got him to bed; [...]

     1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […]; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress as Originally Published by John Bunyan: Being a Fac-simile Reproduction of the First Edition, London: Elliot Stock […], 1875, page 4

3. (Britain, dialectal) To silence, especially by force.  examples

4. To kill.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • I poured a charge of powder over the nipple so as not tu miss goin' off if possible. Click! went the match,—up jumped the flock, or tried tu. As they bunched up, Peggy blazed intu 'em, settlin’ how many I didn't know, [...]

     1894-5, Patterson, Man and Nature (in The Primitive Methodist Magazine)

5. (transitive) To bring or restore (ground, roads, etc) to a smooth, dry, or passable condition.  examples

(intransitive) To become calm, quiet, or orderly; to stop being agitated.  quotations

1. (intransitive) To become firm, dry, and hard, like the ground after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared.  examples

To establish or become established in a steady position:

1. (transitive) To place in(to) a fixed or permanent condition or position or on(to) a permanent basis; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish or fix.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • And he settled his countenance stedfastly [upon him], until he was ashamed.

     1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 2 Kings 8:11

2. (transitive) In particular, to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, etc.  quotations

   Quotations

   • Now thirteen Years of Age were ſwiftly run, / When the fond Father thought the time drew on / Of ſettling in the World his only Son.

     1717, John Dryden, “Book IX. [The Fable of Iphis and Ianthe.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], page 325

   • But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever.

     1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Chronicles 17:14

   1. (transitive, US, obsolete) In particular, to establish in pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish.

3. (transitive, law) To formally, legally secure (an annuity, property, title, etc) on (a person).  examples

4. (intransitive, obsolete) To make a jointure for a spouse.  quotations

   Quotations

   • He sighs with most success that settles well.

     1712, Samuel Garth, Epilogue to Cato, a Tragedy, by Joseph Addison

5. (intransitive) To become married, or a householder.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • As People marry now, and ſettle; / Fierce Love abates his uſual Mettle: [...]

     1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Alma: Or, The Progress of the Mind”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], canto II, page 340

6. (intransitive, with "in") To be established in a profession or in employment.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • He is settled in the profession of law at Rochester, New York.

     1825, William Buell Sprague, An Historical Discourse Delivered at West Springfield

   • Following his avowed aim to settle in his profession of medicine, Sloane arranged to call on Dr Thomas Sydenham, the foremost physician of his day in London, known as 'the English Hippocrates'.

     1994, Arthur MacGregor, Sir Hans Sloane

   • The likely explanation for this is the fact that between the two groups one is now settling in the profession while the older group is preparing to retire and are no longer keen to gain new skills.

     2016, J. K. Ng’eno, M. C. Chesimet, “Differences in Mathematics Teachers' Perceived Preparedness to Demonstrate Competence in Secondary School Mathematics Content by Teacher Characteristics”, in Journal of Education and Practice, volume 7, number 18

7. (intransitive, usually with "down", "in", "on" or another preposition) To become stationary or fixed; to come to rest.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • But then the Wind came about, and ſetled in the West for many dayes, ſo as we could make little or no way, and were ſometimes in purpoſe to turne backe.

     1631, Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], page 1

   • Chyle [...] runs through all the intermediate colors until it settles in an intense red.

     1735, John Arbuthnot, An essay concerning the nature of aliments

(intransitive) To fix one's residence in a place; to establish a dwelling place, home, or colony. (Compare settle down.)

1. (transitive, in particular) To colonize (an area); to migrate to (a land, territory, site, etc).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • It was in the year 1794, that an English family went out to settle in Canada.

     1844, [Frederick] Marryat, chapter I, in The Settlers in Canada. […], volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], page 1

(transitive) To move (people) to (a land or territory), so as to colonize it; to cause (people) to take residence in (a place).  quotations  examples

To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.

1. (transitive) To clear or purify (a liquid) of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink.  examples

2. (transitive) To cause to sink down or to be deposited (dregs, sediment, etc).  examples

3. (transitive) To render compact or solid; to cause to become packed down.  examples

4. (intransitive) To sink to the bottom of a body of liquid, as dregs of a liquid, or the sediment of a reservoir.  examples

5. (intransitive) To sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, for example the foundation of a house, etc.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Sometimes a tub will settle at one corner, causing the rim to slope.

     1980, Robert M. Jones, editor, Walls and Ceilings, Time-Life Books, page 38

6. (intransitive) To become compact due to sinking.  examples

7. (intransitive) To become clear due to the sinking of sediment. (Used especially of liquid. Also used figuratively.)  examples

(transitive, intransitive) Of an animal: to make or become pregnant.  quotations  examples

(archaic) A seat of any kind.  quotations

(now rare) A long bench with a high back and arms, often with chest or storage space underneath.  quotations

(obsolete) A place made lower than the rest; a wide step or platform lower than some other part. (Compare a depression.)  quotations