1 [C] an official agreement that ends an argument between two people or groups:
to negotiate a peace settlement * The management and unions have reached a settlement over new working conditions. * an out-of-court settlement (= money that is paid to sb or an agreement that is made to stop sb going to court)
2 [U] the action of reaching an agreement:
the settlement of a claim / dispute
3 [C] (law) the conditions, or a document stating the conditions, on which money or property is given to sb:
a divorce / marriage / property settlement
4 [U] the action of paying back money that you owe:
the settlement of a debt * a cheque in settlement of a bill * Settlement is made monthly by direct debit.
5 [C] a place where people have come to live and make their homes, especially where few or no people lived before:
signs of an Iron Age settlement * a mining / rural settlement
6 [U] the process of people making their homes in a place:
the settlement of the American West
