set‧tle‧ment W2 / setlmənt / 名词
1 official agreement [可数名词] an official agreement or decision that ends an argument, a court case, or a fight, or the action of making an agreement :
Union leaders and company bosses will meet tomorrow in an attempt to reach a settlement .
His lawyers are understood to be negotiating a settlement .
Hopes grew that a workable peace settlement might emerge.
settlement of
the search for a peaceful settlement of the Northern Ireland conflict
She got her home as part of the divorce settlement .
The company paid out over $10 million in an out-of-court settlement .
2 payment [不可数名词] formal when you pay all the money that you owe
settlement of
the settlement of all his debts
in settlement (of something)
Wyatt had received the property in settlement of a bet.
3 group of houses [可数名词] a group of houses and buildings where people live, especially in a place where few people have lived before :
The railway stations created new settlements.
an early Iron Age settlement
4 new area/places [不可数名词] when a lot of people move to a place in order to live there, especially in a place where not many people have lived before
settlement of
the settlement of the American West
5 sinking [不可数名词] technical the process in which a building or the ground slowly sinks downwards 同义词 subsidence
COLLOCATIONS
动词
reach a settlement The companies reached a settlement in March.
achieve a settlement (= after a lot of discussions ) The government was determined to achieve a settlement in Northern Ireland.
negotiate a settlement (= have discussions to try to reach a settlement ) His lawyers are understood to be negotiating a settlement.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + settlement
an amicable settlement (= when people agree in a friendly way ) Disputes were often taken to a village council, which attempted to bring about an amicable settlement.
a peaceful settlement (= without fighting ) Both sides are working towards a peaceful settlement.
a political settlement (= one that is reached by political discussion, not fighting ) The British government favours a political settlement in the Middle East.
a peace settlement (= one which ends a war ) Hopes of a peace settlement receded.
a divorce settlement (= an agreement about money and property at the end of a marriage ) She acquired full ownership of the building in her 1986 divorce settlement.
an out-of-court settlement (= an agreement made to avoid a court case ) The army denied liability but agreed on an out-of-court settlement.
短语
the terms of a settlement Under the terms of the settlement, the company will pay an undisclosed sum as compensation.