set-aside

[ set-uh-sahyd ]

noun

1. something, as land or profits, set aside for a particular purpose.
2. a tract of federal lands set aside as a wildlife refuge, oil exploration site, etc.
3. a tract of farmland on which commercial crops or a specific crop will not be grown, as part of a federal plan to decrease production in order to maintain or increase prices.
4. a specified amount or percentage of an industry's production set aside, especially for government use:

   Ten percent of gasoline production is a set-aside for emergency use by the state.

5. a government contract awarded, as to a minority-owned business, without competitive bidding.

adjective

1. pertaining to or constituting a set-aside:

   set-aside provisions of the new law.

set aside

verb

1. to reserve for a special purpose; put to one side
2. to discard, dismiss, or quash

noun

1. 1. (in the European Union) a scheme in which a proportion of farmland is taken out of production in order to reduce surpluses or maintain or increase prices of a specific crop
   2. ( as modifier )

      set-aside land

Word History and Origins

Origin of set-aside¹

First recorded in 1940–45; noun, adj. use of verb phrase set aside

Example Sentences

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 6, 1/2-cup ramekins and set aside.

From The Daily Beast

I have set aside the next six years to write a biography of Gerald Ford.

From The Daily Beast

The Girl Scouts have set aside two hours for them to make their case at a discussion session.

From The Daily Beast

Set aside for a moment that that logic is specious in the first place.

From The Daily Beast

They are told that this event is important, and they may, momentarily, set aside their skepticism.

From The Daily Beast

It stands at one extreme of our currency, with a dollar of gold set aside behind each dollar of paper.

From Project Gutenberg

A decision may be modified or set aside when it is regarded as no longer applicable to the present condition of things.

From Project Gutenberg

One of these is filled to a depth of about one-fourth inch from a puncture in the finger, and is set aside for a few hours.

From Project Gutenberg

Whenever a marriage can be set aside for some illegality, and is not, it will sustain her dower on his death.

From Project Gutenberg

This examination is made by an examiner, whose decision, however, is not conclusive and may be set aside by the commissioner.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• deny
• dismantle
• dismiss
• invalidate
• lift
• nullify
• quash
• remove
• renounce
• repeal
• rescind
• retract
• reverse
• vacate
• void
• withdraw