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Settle vs Finish - What's the difference?

settle | finish |

In transitive terms the difference between settle and finish

is that settle is to colonize; to move people to (a land or territory) while finish is to change an animal's food supply in the months before it is due for slaughter, with the intention of fattening the animal.

In intransitive terms the difference between settle and finish

is that settle is to adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement while finish is to come to an end.

settle

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(settl)
  • To place in a fixed or permanent condition; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish; to fix; especially, to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home etc.
  • * And he settled his countenance steadfastly upon him,until he was ashamed. --2 Kings VIII. 11. (Rev. Ver.)
  • *
  • (transitive, obsolete, US) To establish in the pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish.
  • To cause to be no longer in a disturbed condition; to quieten; to still; to calm; to compose.
  • * (George Chapman)
  • God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake.
  • * (John Bunyan)
  • Hoping that sleep might settle his brains.
  • To clear or purify (a liquid) of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink
  • To restore (ground, roads etc.) or bring to a smooth, dry, or passable condition
  • To cause to sink; to lower
  • To determine, as something which is exposed to doubt or question; to free from uncertainty
  • * (Jonathan Swift)
  • It will settle the wavering, and confirm the doubtful.
  • To pacify (a discussion, quarrel).
  • (archaic) To adjust (accounts); to liquidate; to balance.
  • (colloquial) To pay.
  • to settle a bill
  • To colonize; to move people to (a land or territory).
  • To become fixed, permanent or stationary; to establish one's self or itself
  • * (Francis Bacon)
  • The wind came about and settled in the west.
  • * (John Arbuthnot)
  • Chyleruns through all the intermediate colors until it settles in an intense red.
  • To fix one's residence; to establish a dwelling place or home.
  • To become married, or a householder.
  • * (Matthew Prior)
  • As people marry now and settle .
  • To be established in a profession or in employment.
  • To become firm, dry, and hard, like the ground after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared.
  • To become clear after being unclear or vague
  • * (Joseph Addison)
  • A government, on such occasions, is always thick before it settles .
  • To sink to the bottom of a body of liquid, for example dregs of a liquid, or the sediment of a reservoir.
  • To sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, for example the foundation of a house, etc.
  • To become calm; to stop being agitated
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • Till the fury of his highness settle , Come not before him.
  • To adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement.
  • (obsolete) To make a jointure for a wife.
  • * (Samuel Garth)
  • He sighs with most success that settles well.

    Synonyms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Antonyms

    * (to place in a fixed or permanent condition) remove * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic) A seat of any kind.
  • * Hampole
  • upon the settle of his majesty
  • A long bench, often with a high back and arms, with storage space underneath for linen.
  • (obsolete) A place made lower than the rest; a wide step or platform lower than some other part.
  • * Bible, Ezekiel xliii. 14
  • And from the bottom upon the ground, even to the lower settle , shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit.

    finish

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • an end: the end of anything
  • a protective coating given to wood or metal and other surfaces
  • the result of any process changing the physical or chemical properties of cloth
  • (label) a shot on goal, especially one that ends in a goal
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.}}

    Verb

  • (label) to complete (something)
  • (label) to apply a treatment to (a surface or similar)
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=10 , passage=Mr. Cooke had had a sloop?yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed, and which was but just delivered. […] The Maria had a cabin, which was finished in hard wood and yellow plush, and accommodations for keeping things cold.}}
  • (label) to change an animal's food supply in the months before it is due for slaughter, with the intention of fattening the animal
  • (label) to come to an end
  • Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (the (-ing) form). See

    Derived terms

    * nice guys finish last

    Antonyms

    * (to complete) initiate, begin, start