set about
/sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/ verb
Forms sets about setting about settest about setteth about
- verb Used with the adverb sense of about.
- verb (transitive, archaic except chiefly Northern England) To circulate or spread (news, a rumour, etc.)
- verb (archaic) To plant trees or other vegetation in (a place).
- verb (passive voice, archaic) To encircle or surround (something) with other things.
- verb (UK, informal) To attack (someone); to set upon. “Two youths set about him.”
- verb (intransitive) To start doing or to devote oneself to some task; to set upon. “He set about designing his homepage.”
Synonyms
begin upon undertake embark on set to take in hand go about approach attempt get down begin get start out start set out commence
Etymology
From set (verb) + about (adverb, preposition).
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “set about”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details