to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively; agree upon (as time, price, or conditions).

to place in a desired state or in order

to settle one's affairs.

to pay, as a bill.

to close (an account) by payment.

to migrate to and organize (an area, territory, etc.); colonize

The pilgrims settled Plymouth.

to cause to take up residence

They settled immigrants in urban areas.

to furnish (a place) with inhabitants or settlers

The French settled this colony with army veterans.

to quiet, calm, or bring to rest (the nerves, stomach, etc.).

to stop from annoying or opposing

A sharp word will settle that youngster.

to conclude or resolve

to settle a dispute.

to make stable; place in a permanent position or on a permanent basis.

to cause (a liquid) to become clear by depositing dregs.

to cause (dregs, sediment, etc.) to sink or be deposited.

to cause to sink down gradually; make firm or compact.

to dispose of finally; close up

to settle an estate.

Law .

to secure (property, title, etc.) on or to a person by formal or legal process.

to terminate (legal proceedings) by mutual consent of the parties.

to decide, arrange, or agree (often fol. by on or upon )

to settle on a plan of action.

to arrange matters in dispute; come to an agreement

to settle with a person.

to pay a bill; make a financial arrangement (often fol. by up ).

to take up residence in a new country or place

Many Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi River following La Salle's explorations.

to come to rest, as from flight

A bird settled on a bough.

to gather, collect, or become fixed in a particular place, direction, etc.

A cold settled in my head.

to become calm or composed (often fol. by down )

I'll wait until the class settles before starting the lesson.

to come to rest (often fol. by down )

We settled down for the night at an old country inn.

to sink down gradually; subside.

to become clear by the sinking of suspended particles, as a liquid.

to sink to the bottom, as sediment.

to become firm or compact, as the ground.

(of a female animal) to become pregnant; conceive. ?

settle down,

to become established in some routine, esp. upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.

to become calm or quiet.

to apply oneself to serious work

There were so many distractions that we weren't able to settle down to studying.

settle for, to be satisfied with

to settle for less.

settle into, to become established in

to settle into a new routine.

adjective

deep-rooted , deep-seated , entrenched , hard-shell , ineradicable , ingrained , inveterate , irradicable , set