Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An unanticipated or sudden check in progress; a change from better to worse.
  • noun A steplike recession in a wall.
  • noun Any of a series of such recessions in the rise of a tall building.
  • noun An automatically timed setting of a thermostat to a lower temperature, as in the home at night.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Any game in which a failure to score is counted by setting back the player instead of allowing his adversary to add the points to his score: usually restricted to games such as all-fours, in which there is bidding for the trump.
  • noun Same as backset, 1.
  • noun Same as backset, 2.
  • noun A pool or overflow setting back over the land, as from a freshet.
  • noun In architecture, a flat plain set-off in a wall.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Arch.) Offset, n., 4.
  • noun United States A backset; a countercurrent; an eddy.
  • noun Colloq. U.S. A reversal of progress in an endeavor; a reverse; a backset; a check; a repulse; a relapse.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An obstacle, delay, or disadvantage.
  • noun US The required distance between a structure and a road.
  • noun architecture A step-like recession in a wall.
  • noun possibly archaic A backset; a countercurrent; an eddy.
  • noun A backset; a check; a repulse; a relapse.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb hold back to a later time
  • verb cost a certain amount
  • verb slow down the progress of; hinder
  • noun structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly
  • noun an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Champions League carrot will inspire a United revival after the title setback against Chelsea.

    Football.co.uk news feed 2010

  • Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Champions League carrot will inspire a United revival after the title setback against Chelsea.

    Football.co.uk news feed 2010

  • At the time it occurs, a setback is a potential failure.

    Kristine Kathryn Rusch » 2009 » September 2009

  • Another setback is the slow pace of the disclosure of government documentation in civil proceedings brought by six former Guantánamo inmates who are suing the government for its alleged role in their rendition and torture.

    MPs set out list of torture inquiry demands in letter to judge Ian Cobain 2010

  • While Bohl describes the shoulder surgery as a "short term setback" in the lead up to next year's London Olympics, he admits Rice needs to work hard before the selection trials in March.

    NEWS.com.au | Top Stories 2011

  • Alderson steered clear of using the word "setback" to describe Santana's situation but not by much.

    NYT > Home Page By DAVE CALDWELL 2011

  • Alderson steered clear of using the word "setback" to describe Santana's situation but not by much.

    NYT > Home Page By DAVE CALDWELL 2011

  • Juventus suffered a serious Serie A title setback when rock-bottom visitors Catania clinched a 2-1 win, handing the Turin giants a third straight defeat.

    Top Headlines 2009

  • Juventus suffered a serious Serie A title setback on Sunday when rock-bottom visitors Catania clinched a 2-1 win, handing the Turin giants a third straight defeat.

    Taipei Times 2009

  • ROME (AFP) - Juventus suffered a serious Serie A title setback on Sunday when rock-bottom visitors Catania clinched a 2-1 win, handing the Turin giants a third straight defeat.

    Soccerway.com 2009

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