1 a set of surroundings; the place at which sth happens:
a rural / an ideal / a beautiful / an idyllic setting * It was the perfect setting for a wonderful Christmas. * People tend to behave differently in different social settings.
2 the place and time at which the action of a play, novel, etc. takes place:
short stories with a contemporary setting
3 (AmE) = SET(5)
4 a position at which the controls on a machine can be set, to set the speed, height, temperature, etc:
The performance of the engine was tested at different settings.
5 (music) music written to go with a poem, etc:
Schubert's setting of a poem by Goethe
6 a piece of metal in which a precious stone is fixed to form a piece of jewellery:
a ruby in a heavy gold setting
7 a complete set of equipment for eating with (knife, fork, spoon, glass, etc.) for one person, arranged on a table:
a place setting
