the place, surroundings, or background where something happens
The mountain village provided a perfect setting for their wedding photos.
The novel’s wartime setting makes the story even more intense.
✦ Derived from Old English “settan” meaning “to put or place,” with the noun sense developing in Middle English to mean the surroundings of an event.
a particular position or level chosen on a device or machine
Turn the oven to the lowest setting so the sauce can simmer gently.
I changed the brightness setting on my phone to save battery.
✦ Extends the idea of “putting something in a position” to choosing a position on a control in 20th-century technology.
the metal frame that holds a jewel in place
The diamond fell out because the ring’s setting was loose.
She chose a simple gold setting for her sapphire.
✦ Specialized jeweler’s use recorded since the 19th century, from the idea of “setting” a gem into metal.
all the plates, knives, forks, and glasses arranged for one person at a meal
The restaurant uses a formal setting with three forks and two knives.
We added a festive napkin to each setting for the holiday dinner.
✦ From the verb phrase “set the table”; the noun arose in the 18th century to name the items set out for one diner.
