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"Set" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "poner", and "set up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "establecer". Learn more about the difference between "set" and "set up" below.
set(
seht
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to place)
3. (to adjust)
a. poner
You should set the day and time on your camera so you know when you took your pictures.Deberías poner la fecha y la hora en tu cámara para saber cuándo tomaste las fotos.
a. fijar
We need to set a date for our next meeting.Hay que fijar una fecha para la siguiente reunión.
6. (to locate)
c. desarrollarse
The first scene is set on a battlefield.La primera escena se desarrolla en un campo de batalla.
b. establecer (record, agenda, target)
The chairman sets the agenda with input from the board members.El presidente establece el orden del día con las contribuciones de los integrantes de la junta.
e. sentar (precedent)
He condemned the decision as setting a dangerous precedent.Censuró la decisión por sentar un precedente peligroso.
9. (to assign)
11. (to mount)
12. (medicine)
b. reducir
They had to give him an anesthetic in order to set the fracture.Tuvieron que darle anestesia para poder reducir la fractura.
c. componer (dislocated bone) (Guatemala) (Mexico) (South America)
Regionalism used in Guatemala
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
A retired doctor set the dislocated collar bone Pedro suffered on the cruise.Un médico jubilado le compuso la clavícula dislocada que sufrió Pedro en el crucero.
13. (printing)
14. (to make fast)
15. (to make solid)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
16. (established)
c. establecido
He has a set routine to prepare for every game.Tiene una rutina establecida para prepararse antes de los partidos.
a. obligatorio (text)
‘Macbeth’ is one of the set texts on the English literature syllabus.‘Macbeth’ es uno de los textos obligatorios del programa de estudio.
18. (inflexible)
a. arraigado (opinions, ideas, habits)
Patricia is very set in her ways.Patricia tiene hábitos muy arraigados.
19. (ready)
a. listo
It looks like you’re all set for the wedding next week.Parece que tienes todo listo para la boda la semana que viene.
20. (likely)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Our team looks set to win.Nuestro equipo lleva las de ganar.
The price of electricity looks all set to rise again.El precio de la electricidad lleva camino de subir otra vez.
21. (determined)
22. (culinary)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
23. (to go down)
24. (to harden)
a. endurecerse
The cement had set as hard as rock.El cemento había endurecido hasta estar como una piedra.
25. (to begin)
26. (medicine)
a. soldarse
The doctor applied a cast so the bone would set.El médico aplicó un yeso para que el hueso se soldara.
27. (to become firm)
a. cuajar
After the mixture has cooled, put it in the refrigerator to set.Después de que se enfríe la mezcla, ponla en el refrigerador para que cuaje.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
28. (matching group)
b. el conjunto (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Everyone behaves differently in a given set of circumstances.Todos se comportan de manera distinta en un conjunto dado de circunstancias.
c. la colección (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Jim has a complete set of Shakespeare's works.Jim tiene una colección completa de las obras de Shakespeare.
29. (mathematics)
a. el conjunto (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We had to find the set of positive prime numbers less than 100.Tuvimos que encontrar el conjunto de los números primos positivos de menos de 100.
30. (tennis)
31. (television)
a. el aparato (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Diane turned the set on to watch the news.Diane prendió el aparato para ver las noticias.
b. el televisor (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We are going to watch the program on our new set tonight.Vamos a ver el programa en nuestro televisor nuevo esta noche.
32. (radio)
a. el aparato (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I'll listen to it on the set in the other room.Lo escucharé por el aparato de la habitación al lado.
b. el receptor (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Carlos is listening to music on a set he built in science class.Carlos está escuchando música en un receptor que construyó en la clase de ciencias.
33. (theater)
a. el escenario (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He was on set when he collapsed.Estaba en el escenario cuando sufrió un colapso.
b. el decorado (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The students spent a lot of time constructing the set for the school play.Los estudiantes dedicaron mucho tiempo a la construcción del decorado para la obra de la escuela.
34. (film)
a. el plató (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We watched the actors on set when we took a tour of the studio.Vimos a los actores en el plató cuando tomamos un tour del estudio.
35. (performance)
a. la actuación (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
At the end of their set, everyone applauded wildly.Al terminar su actuación, todos aplaudieron como locos.
b. el círculo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He joined the yachting set in Fort Lauderdale when he retired.Se unió al círculo de dueños de yates en Fort Lauderdale cuando se jubiló.
37. (position)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I could tell from the set of her mouth that she was angry.Se notaba por el fruncimiento de su boca que estaba enojada.
The rigid set of his shoulders showed how tense he was.La postura rígida de sus hombros denotaba mucha tensión.
b. la dirección (F) (of the tide)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I had to steer against the set of the tide.Tuve que navegar contra la dirección de la marea.
38. (hairdressing)
a. el marcado (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We have a special price for a wash, cut, set, and dry.Ofrecemos un precio especial para lavado, corte, marcado y secado.
39. (series)
40. (badger's den)
a. la madriguera de tejón (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I don't think that's just an ordinary hole. It looks like a set.No creo que ese sea un hoyo cualquiera. Parece una madriguera de tejón.
b. la madriguera (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
When the badger saw us coming, it scurried into the sett.Cuando el tejón vio que nos acercábamos, se apuró a meterse en la madriguera.
set up(
sehd
uhp
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
1. (to create)
a. establecer
They set up their first pharmacy in Mexico City in 1903.Establecieron su primera farmacia en la Ciudad de México en 1903.
b. fundar
She set up the first dance school in the city.Ella fundó la primera escuela de danza de la ciudad.
c. constituir (a committee or cooperative)
The residents set up a condominium association.Los residentes del condominio constituyeron una asociación de propietarios.
d. crear
Before you can use the website, you have to set up an account.Antes de poder usar el sitio, tienes que crear una cuenta.
b. erigir
A monument was set up in honor of his victory.Se erigió un monumento en homenaje a su victoria.
c. levantar
He brought the statue from Italy and set it up in his garden.Trajo la estatua de Italia y la levantó en su jardín.
d. armar
They took the parts out of the box and got to work setting up the bookcase.Sacaron las piezas de la caja y se pusieron a trabajar para armar la estantería.
3. (computing)
a. configurar
I was looking for tips on how to set up a wireless network at home.Buscaba consejos sobre cómo configurar una red inalámbrica en la casa.
a. organizar
He offered to set up a meeting with his boss.Se ofreció a organizar una reunión con su jefe.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
His father set him up in business.Su padre le puso un negocio.
When I inherit that money, I'll be set up for life.Cuando herede ese dinero, tendré el porvenir asegurado.
6. (colloquial) (to frame)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
7. (to cause)
a. provocar
When the energy is released, it sets up a chain reaction.Cuando se desata la energía, esto provoca una reacción en cadena.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. establecerse
Miguel thought of setting up as a barber.Miguel pensaba establecerse como peluquero.
a. prepararse
We'll give you a few minutes to set up, then we can start the presentation.Te daremos unos cuantos minutos para prepararte, luego podemos empezar la presentación.
b. alistarse (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
When we arrived, the band hadn't finished setting up.Cuando llegamos, la banda no había terminado de alistarse.
