Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To place something down, especially after carrying it: To put or deposit something onto a surface, typically to relieve oneself of its weight.
   • To record or write something officially: To establish or state something in a permanent or authoritative written form.
   • To attribute or ascribe: To explain or regard something as being caused by a particular factor.

2. Verb (Intransitive, chiefly of an aircraft or bird):

   • To land or come to rest: To touch down and settle onto a surface.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Transitive - To place down):

  • Please set down your groceries on the kitchen counter.
  • The porter set down the heavy suitcase with a sigh of relief.

• Verb (Transitive - To record in writing):

  • The committee's rules were set down in the official charter.
  • She set down her memories in a detailed journal.

• Verb (Transitive - To attribute):

  • His success can be set down to years of hard work and dedication.
  • The error was set down to a simple misunderstanding.

• Verb (Intransitive - To land):

  • The helicopter set down safely on the rooftop pad.
  • We watched the geese set down on the surface of the lake.

Advanced Usage

• "to set down as": To classify or consider someone or something in a particular, often fixed, way.

  • I would set him down as a reliable and honest person.
  • The style was set down as a classic example of modernism.

• "to set down for": To schedule or designate something for a particular time or purpose.

  • The meeting was set down for three o'clock. (Less common; "set for" is more frequent).

Variants and Related Words

• Setdown (noun): A sharp or humiliating rebuke or rejection.

  • His proposal met with a severe setdown from the board.

• Settle down: To become calm, quiet, or established in a stable life. (Note: This is a related but distinct phrasal verb).

Synonyms

• Put down: To place something on a surface.
• Write down: To record information on paper.
• Ascribe: To attribute a cause or source.
• Land: To come down to rest on the ground or another surface.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Set down (as used in law/aviation): The core meanings covered above (to land, to record) are the primary phrasal verb uses. It does not commonly branch into many other distinct phrasal meanings.

Related Idioms

• To set down roots: To establish a permanent home or become settled in a community. (Note: This idiom uses "set" with "roots," not "set down" as a unit).
  • After years of traveling, they decided to set down roots in a small town.

Verb

1. leave or unload
   • unload the cargo
   • drop off the passengers at the hotel
2. go ashore
   • The passengers disembarked at Southampton
3. cause to sit or seat or be in a settled position or place
   • set down your bags here
4. put or settle into a position
   • The hotel was set down at the bottom of the valley
5. reach or come to rest
   • The bird landed on the highest branch
   • The plane landed in Istanbul
6. put down in writing; of texts, musical compositions, etc.