set offverb

• 1

  To leave; to set out; to begin a journey or trip.

  • He set off in search of better opportunities.
  • Considerable excitement was caused on the L.M.S.R. Aberdeen line out of Perth recently when a shunting engine in Perth North goods yard, whose driver and fireman were absent, was accidentally set in motion by a shunter and set off unattended on to the main line.
• 2

  To begin; to cause; to initiate.

  • I had no idea that one simple comment would set off such a huge argument.
• 3

  To cause to explode, let off.

  • What a tragedy, that someone would set off a bomb in a crowded place.
  • Wrex: There are acid tanks rigged up on that thing. Set them off. Millions of my ancestors died to put these things down. Don't let them come back.
• 4

  To put into an angry mood; to start (a person) ranting or sulking, etc.

  • Don't set him off or he won't shut up all day.
• 5

  To enhance by emphasizing differences.

  • Her plain white dress was set off by a bright red stole.
  • And then one afternoon in the hinder end of April came young Heriotside riding to the Skerburnfoot. His arm was healed, he had got him a fine new suit of green, and his horse was a mettle beast that well set off his figure.
• 6

  To offset, to compensate for: to reduce the effect of, by having a contrary effect.

  • My taxes did not increase because the amount of my raise was set off by my losses in the stock market.
  • When a woman had made such a mistake, there was only one way to repair it,—to accept it. One folly was enough, especially it was to last for ever; a second one would not much set it off.
• 7

  historicalmediaprintingpublishingTo deface or soil the next sheet; said of the ink on a freshly printed sheet, when another sheet comes in contact with it before it has had time to dry.