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set down

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set someone down (on something)

 and set someone down (onto something)

to place a person one is carrying or lifting onto something. I set the small boy down onto the desk and gave him a piece of candy. Set the baby down and come over here.

See also: down, set

set someone or something down

 and put someone or something down

to lower or set down someone or something. (See also set something down; put someone or something down.) Put me down! Please set that vase down. It cost a fortune. Put down that gun!

See also: down, set

set something down

 and put something down 

1. to place something on the surface of something. Andy set the hot skillet down on the dishcloth and burned a hole in it. He set down the skillet here and burned the counter.

2. to write something on paper. Let me put this down on paper so we will have a record of what was said. I will set down this note on paper.

3. to land an aircraft. The pilot put the plane down exactly on time. I can't set down this plane in the fog.

See also: down, set

set down something

also set something down

to write or print something He set down his memories of his trip to Italy as a child. When you get a chance, set your ideas down on paper.

Related vocabulary: lay down something

See also: down, set

set down

1. Place in a lower position, as in Set the baby down here, or Set the bags down on the hall table. [Late 1400s]

2. Put in writing, record, as in Just set down all the facts as you remember them. [Second half of 1500s]

3. Regard, consider, as in Just set him down as a fool. [Late 1700s]

4. Assign to a cause, ascribe, as in Let's set down his error to inexperience. [Early 1800s]

5. Land an aircraft, as in The pilot set the plane down hard on the runway. Also see put down.

See also: down, set

set down

v.

1. To put something on the surface of something: They set the boxes down on the floor. I set down my book and closed my eyes.

2. To put something in writing; record something: I set down some ideas for a novel. The committee set their findings down in a report.

3. To land some aircraft: The pilot set the plane down hard. She found a clearing and set down the helicopter.

4. To land: The plane set down at a small airport outside the city.

5. Baseball To put out some batter; retire someone. Used of a pitcher: The pitcher set down the first two hitters. The hitter stepped up to the plate, and the pitcher set him down with a fastball.

6. set down as To regard someone as something: They set her down as a liar and never trusted her again.

7. set down to To attribute some event to some cause: Let's set the error down to inexperience.

See also: down, set