settle (settles 3rd person present) (settling present participle) (settled past tense & past participle )
1 verb If people settle an argument or problem, or if something settles it, they solve it, for example by making a decision about who is right or about what to do.
They agreed to try to settle their dispute by negotiation... V n
Tomorrow's vote is unlikely to settle the question of who will replace their leader. V n
2 verb If people settle a legal dispute or if they settle, they agree to end the dispute without going to a court of law, for example by paying some money or by apologizing.
In an attempt to settle the case, Molken has agreed to pay restitution... V n
She got much less than she would have done if she had settled out of court... V
His company settled with the American authorities by paying a V with n 200 million fine.
3 verb If you settle a bill or debt, you pay the amount that you owe.
I settled the bill for my coffee and his two glasses of wine... V n
They settled with Colin at the end of the evening. V with n
4 verb If something is settled, it has all been decided and arranged.
usu passive
As far as we're concerned, the matter is settled... be V-ed
5 verb When people settle a place or in a place, or when a government settles them there, they start living there permanently.
Refugees settling in Britain suffer from a number of problems... V prep/adv
Thirty-thousand-million dollars is needed to settle the refugees. V n, Also V n prep/adv, V
6 verb If you settle yourself somewhere or settle somewhere, you sit down or make yourself comfortable.
Albert settled himself on the sofa... V pron-refl prep/adv
Jessica settled into her chair with a small sigh of relief. V prep/adv
7 verb If something settles or if you settle it, it sinks slowly down and becomes still.
A black dust settled on the walls... V prep/adv
Once its impurities had settled, the oil could be graded... V
Tap each one firmly on your work surface to settle the mixture. V n
8 verb If your eyes settle on or upon something, you stop looking around and look at that thing for some time.
(=rest)
The man let his eyes settle upon Cross's face. V on/upon n
9 verb When birds or insects settle on something, they land on it from above.
(=light)
Moths flew in front of it, eventually settling on the rough painted metal. V on n
10
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settled
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when the dust settles
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dust
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to settle a score
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score settle down
1 phrasal verb When someone settles down, they start living a quiet life in one place, especially when they get married or buy a house.
One day I'll want to settle down and have a family... V P
Before she settled down in Portugal, she had run her own antiques shop in London. V P prep/adv
2 phrasal verb If a situation or a person that has been going through a lot of problems or changes settles down, they become calm.
It'd be fun, after the situation in Europe settles down, to take a trip over to France... V P
3 phrasal verb If you settle down to do something or to something, you prepare to do it and concentrate on it.
He got his coffee, came back and settled down to listen... V P to-inf
They settled down to some serious work. V P to n
4 phrasal verb If you settle down for the night, you get ready to lie down and sleep.
They put up their tents and settled down for the night. V P settle for phrasal verb If you settle for something, you choose or accept it, especially when it is not what you really want but there is nothing else available.
Virginia was a perfectionist. She was just not prepared to settle for anything mediocre... V P n settle in phrasal verb If you settle in, you become used to living in a new place, doing a new job, or going to a new school.
I enjoyed King Edward's School enormously once I'd settled in. V P settle on phrasal verb If you settle on a particular thing, you choose it after considering other possible choices.
(=decide on)
I finally settled on a Mercedes estate. V P n settle up phrasal verb When you settle up, you pay a bill or a debt.
When we approached the till to settle up, he reduced our bill by 50 per cent. V P
