English verb: set off | |||
1. | set off (creation) put in motion or move to act | ||
Samples | Trigger a reaction. Actuate the circuits. | ||
Synonyms | activate, actuate, spark, spark off, touch off, trigger, trigger off, trip | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | initiate, pioneer | ||
Cause | come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place | ||
2. | set off (motion) leave | ||
Samples | The family took off for Florida. | ||
Examples | The children set off to the playground | ||
Synonyms | depart, part, set forth, set out, start, start out, take off | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | go away, go forth, leave | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | blaze, blaze out, lift off, roar off, sally forth, sally out, take off | ||
3. | set off (change) direct attention to, as if by means of contrast | ||
Samples | This dress accentuates your nice figure!. I set off these words by brackets. | ||
Synonyms | bring out | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | accent, accentuate, emphasise, emphasize, punctuate, stress | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | foreground, highlight, pick up, play up, raise, spotlight | ||
4. | set off (change) cause to burst with a violent release of energy | ||
Samples | We exploded the nuclear bomb. | ||
Synonyms | blow up, detonate, explode | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change integrity | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | dynamite, fulminate | ||
Cause | blow up, detonate, explode | ||
5. | set off (stative) make up for | ||
Samples | His skills offset his opponent's superior strength. | ||
Synonyms | cancel, offset | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | balance, equilibrate, equilibrise, equilibrize | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | counteract, counterbalance, countervail, neutralize | ||
6. | set off (change) set in motion or cause to begin | ||
Samples | The guide set the tour off to a good start. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | begin, commence, lead off, start | ||
7. | set off (communication) provoke or stir up | ||
Samples | Incite a riot. Set off great unrest among the people. | ||
Synonyms | incite, instigate, stir up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | provoke, stimulate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | raise | ||
Cause | act, move | ||