settle has definitions from the field of law
1
[ verb ] settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

Synonyms

settle_down

Examples

"dust settled on the roofs"

Used in print

(Clayton C. Barbeau, The Ikon....)

Prevot had said that the searchlights would be bounced off the clouds at 2230 hours , `` which gives us time to get settled in position '' .

(Bruce Palmer, "My Brother's Keeper", Many Are...)

The Union soldiers grounded arms and settled into healthy , indifferent postures to watch the feeble boarding of the skiffs .

(Frieda Arkin, "The Light of the Sea," in The...)

Her voice was ripe and full and her teeth flashed again in Sicilian brilliance before the warm curved lips met and her mouth settled in repose .

Solid , settled , lost .

(Arthur Miller, "The Prophecy," in The Best...)

He would settle himself into his seat to laugh .

Related terms

situate put sediment

2
[ verb ] bring to an end; settle conclusively

Examples

"The case was decided" "The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff" "The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance"

Used in print

(James Boylan, "Mutinity"...)

The issue was settled on_shore , Greene winning and Wilson remaining ashore , determined to catch the next fishing_boat back to England .

(Tom F. Driver, "Beckett by the Madeleine,"...)

I knew that a conversation with the author would not settle such questions , because a man is not the same as his writing : in_the_last_analysis , the questions had to be settled by the work itself .

I knew that a conversation with the author would not settle such questions , because a man is not the same as his writing : in_the_last_analysis , the questions had to be settled by the work itself .

(Kenneth Reiner, "Coping with Runaway Technology"...)

Strikes should be declared illegal against corporations because disagreements would have to be settled by government representatives acting_as controllers of the corporation whose responsibility to the state would now be defined against proprietorship because employees and proprietors must be completely interdependent , as they are each a part of the whole .

3
[ verb ] settle conclusively; come to terms

Examples

"We finally settled the argument"

Used in print

(Douglas Ashford, "Elections in Morocco: Progress...)

Since the details of the elections were settled the change of government had no direct effect on the technical aspects of the elections , and may have been more important as an indication of royal displeasure with the U.N.F.P.

(Howard Fast, April Morning....)

That settled it , and we broke into parties of two and three .

(Guy Bolton, The Olympians....)

She concluded by asking for a brief interview - `` to settle with you where '' - and she threw_in a tribute to his `` gentle manners '' and `` the wild originality of your countenance '' .

4
[ verb ] take up residence and become established

Synonyms

locate relocate

Examples

"The immigrants settled in the Midwest"

Used in print

(John Harnsberger and Robert P. Wilkins,...)

Thomas_Douglas , fifth Earl of Selkirk , a noble humanitarian Scot concerned with the plight of the crofters of his native Highlands , conceived a plan to settle them in the valley of the Red_River of the North .

The grant , which stretched southward to Lake_Traverse - the headwaters of the Red - was made in May , 1811 , and by October of that year a small group of Scots was settling for the winter at York_Factory on Hudson_Bay .

The latter , members of two regiments of Swiss mercenaries transported by Great_Britain to Canada to fight the Americans in the War_of_1812 , had settled in Montreal and Kingston at the close of the war in 1815 .

Observing their distressing condition , Colonel_Snelling allowed these half starved immigrants to settle on the military reservation .

(The Family Fallout Shelter. Office of Civil and Defence...)

After the family has settled in the shelter , the housekeeping rules should be spelled_out by the adult in charge .

5
[ verb ] come to terms

Examples

"After some discussion we finally made up"

Used in print

(Newark Evening News...)

He lost , but settled for a cake in the shape of a fedora .

(The Atlanta Constitution...)

`` We tried to settle this dispute '' , he said , `` but could never come_to an agreement .

I settled it tonight '' , he continued .

(Confidential, 9:1...)

She wanted to go around the world , but she settled for a French holiday .

6
[ verb ] go under, "The raft sank and its occupants drowned"

Synonyms

go_down sink go_under

Used in print

(LeRoy Fothergill, "Biological Warfare", in Peter...)

The smaller the particle the further it will travel downwind before settling out .

(Ross E. McKinney and Howard Edde, "Aerated...)

The increase in oxygen uptake rates from 1.2 to 2.6 mg / l / hr which followed an increase in rotor speed was believed to be related to resuspension of solids which had settled at the lower rotor speeds .

It appeared that most of the mixed liquor suspended solids were active microbial solids with the heavier , less active solids settling out .

The floc particles were all small as the heavier floc settled out .

7
[ verb ] become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style

Examples

"He finally settled down"

Used in print

(Chester G. Starr, The Origins of Greek Civili...)

These are the centuries in which the inhabitants of the Aegean world settled firmly into their minds and into their institutions the foundations of the Hellenic outlook , independent of outside forces .

Related terms

stabilize roost

8
[ verb ] become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet

Examples

"The roar settled to a thunder" "The wind settled in the West" "it is settling to rain" "A cough settled in her chest" "Her mood settled into lethargy"

Used in print

(Thomas B. Dewey, Hunter at Large....)

He was shaking with tension and it took him a_couple_of minutes to get his breath and settle down .

Related terms

become

9
[ verb ] establish or develop as a residence

Examples

: "He settled the farm 200 years ago" "This land was settled by Germans"

Used in print

(Tristram P. Coffin, "Folklore in the American Twentieth...)

In_addition , this country has been settled by many peoples of many heritages and their lore has become acculturated slowly , in an age of print and easy communication , within an ever expanding and changing society .

Related terms

develop settlement

10
[ verb ] come to rest

Synonyms

halt

Used in print

(Richard Tiernan, "Land of the Silver Dollar,"...)

The way was opening_up ; when the management brought around champagne , the breakfast settled its whirling_around in his stomach .

Related terms

stop

11
[ verb ] (law) end a legal dispute by arriving at a settlement

Examples

"The two parties finally settled"

Used in print

(Allan J. Braff and Roger F. Miller, "Wage-Price...)

The existence of conflict and of vigorous union demand for an increase in money wages does not contradict the assumption that the union is willing to settle for cost-of-living and productivity share increases as distinct from a cost raising increase in the basic wage rate .

Related terms

agree settlement

12
[ verb ] accept despite complete satisfaction

Examples

"We settled for a lower price"

Used in print

(John R. Sargent, "Where To Aim Your Planning for Bigger...)

Will your trade customers settle for less attention and fewer frills in_return_for some benefit they can share ?

Related terms

accept liquidation

13
[ verb ] arrange or fix in the desired order

Examples

"She settled the teacart"

Used in print

(William Maxwell, The Chateau....)

While she was settling the teacart , he went_back across the hall to their bedroom , opened one of the suitcases , and took_out powdered coffee and sugar .

Related terms

arrange

14
[ verb ] become clear by the sinking of particles

Examples

"the liquid gradually settled"

Related terms

change sink

15
[ verb ] sink down or precipitate

Synonyms

subside

Examples

"the mud subsides when the waters become calm"

Related terms

sink dregs

16
[ verb ] cause to become clear by forming a sediment (of liquids)

Related terms

sink dregs

17
[ verb ] dispose of; make a financial settlement
18
[ verb ] make final; put the last touches on; put into final form

Examples

"let's finalize the proposal"

Related terms

end end fixate

19
[ noun ] Last name, frequency rank in the U.S. is 3831
20
[ verb ] get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury

Synonyms

get_back

Examples

"I finally settled with my old enemy"

Related terms

fight

21
[ verb ] fix firmly

Synonyms

ensconce

Examples

"He ensconced himself in the chair"

Related terms

situate put

22
[ verb ] come as if by falling

Synonyms

descend fall

Examples

"Night fell" "Silence fell"

Related terms

come fall

23
[ verb ] form a community

Examples

"The Swedes settled in Minnesota"

Related terms

homestead settlement migrate

24
[ noun ] a long wooden bench with a back

Synonyms

settee

Related terms

bench

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