serv|ing /sɜː r v I ŋ/ (servings )
1 N‑COUNT A serving is an amount of food that is given to one person at a meal. □ [+ of ] Quantities will vary according to how many servings of soup you want to prepare. □ Each serving contains 240 calories.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A serving spoon or dish is used for giving out food at a meal. □ Pile the potatoes into a warm serving dish.
ser|vi|tude /sɜː r v I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Servitude is the condition of being a slave or of being completely under the control of someone else. □ …a life of servitude.
2 → see also penal servitude
sesa|me /se səmi/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Sesame is a plant grown for its seeds and oil, which are used in cooking. □ …sesame seeds.
ses|sion ◆◆◇ /se ʃ ə n/ (sessions )
1 N‑COUNT [oft in N ] A session is a meeting of a court, parliament, or other official group. □ [+ of ] …an emergency session of parliament. □ After two late night sessions, the Security Council has failed to reach agreement. □ The court was in session.
2 N‑COUNT [oft in N ] A session is a period during which the meetings of a court, parliament, or other official group are regularly held. □ The parliamentary session ends on October 4th.
3 N‑COUNT A session of a particular activity is a period of that activity. □ The two leaders emerged for a photo session. □ …group therapy sessions.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Session musicians are employed to play backing music in recording studios. □ He established himself as a session musician. COLLOCATIONS session NOUN 3
noun + session : coaching, gym, practice, training; counselling, therapy; bonding, drinking, recording
verb + session : attend, run
set
➊ NOUN USES
➋ VERB AND ADJECTIVE USES
➊ set ◆◆◆ /se t/ (sets )
1 N‑COUNT A set of things is a number of things that belong together or that are thought of as a group. □ [+ of ] There must be one set of laws for the whole of the country. □ [+ of ] I might need a spare set of clothes. □ [+ of ] The computer repeats a set of calculations. □ [+ of ] Only she and Mr Cohen had complete sets of keys to the shop. □ The mattress and base are normally bought as a set. □ …a chess set.
2 N‑COUNT In tennis, a set is one of the groups of six or more games that form part of a match. □ Graf was leading 5-1 in the first set.
3 N‑COUNT In mathematics, a set is a group of mathematical quantities that have some characteristic in common.
4 N‑COUNT A band's or musician's set is the group of songs or tunes that they perform at a concert. □ The band continued with their set after a short break.
5 N‑SING You can refer to a group of people as a set if they meet together socially or have the same interests and lifestyle. □ He belonged to what the press called 'The Chelsea Set'.
6 → see also jet set
7 N‑COUNT [oft on/off N ] The set for a play, film, or television show is the furniture and scenery that is on the stage when the play is being performed or in the studio where filming takes place. □ From the first moment he got on the set, he wanted to be a director too. □ [+ for ] …his stage sets for the Folies Bergeres.
8 N‑SING The set of someone's face or part of their body is the way that it is fixed in a particular expression or position, especially one that shows determination. □ [+ of ] Isabelle opened her mouth but stopped when she saw the set of his shoulders and the look in his eyes.
9 N‑COUNT A set is an appliance. For example, a television set is a television. □ Children spend so much time in front of the television set.
➋ set ◆◆◆ /se t/ (sets , setting ) The form set is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle of the verb. → Please look at categories 25 to 31 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If you set something somewhere, you put it there, especially in a careful or deliberate way. □ [V n prep] He took the case out of her hand and set it on the floor. □ [V n with adv] When he set his glass down he spilled a little drink.
2 ADJ If something is set in a particular place or position, it is in that place or position. □ [+ in ] The castle is set in 25 acres of beautiful grounds.
3 ADJ If something is set into a surface, it is fixed there and does not stick out. □ [+ in ] The man unlocked a gate set in a high wall and let me through.
4 VERB You can use set to say that a person or thing causes another person or thing to be in a particular condition or situation. For example, to set someone free means to cause them to be free, and to set something going means to cause it to start working. □ [V n v-ing] Set the kitchen timer going. □ [V n v-ing] A phrase from the conference floor set my mind wandering. □ [be V -ed adj/adv] Dozens of people have been injured and many vehicles set on fire. □ [V n with prep] Churchill immediately set into motion a daring plan.
5 VERB When you set a clock or control, you adjust it to a particular point or level. □ [V n adv/prep] Set the volume as high as possible. □ [V n] I forgot to set my alarm and I overslept.