/'setlmənt; `sɛtlmənt/
n
1 (a) [U] settling or being settled 解决; 处理; 决定; 和解
*the settlement of a debt, dispute, claim 债务的偿还、争端的解决、索赔的清偿.
(b) [C] agreement, etc that settles sth 解决某事物之协议等
*a lasting settlement of the troubles 一劳永逸的解决纠纷的办法
* The strikers have reached a settlement with the employers. 罢工的人已同雇主达成协议.
2 [C] (law 律) (document stating the) terms on which money or property is given to sb; money or property given in this way 金钱或财产的转让（契约）; 转让的金钱或财产
*a `marriage settlement, ie one made by a spouse in favour of his/her spouse when they get married 婚姻财产协议（结婚时一方向配偶转让财产的协议）.
3 (a) [U] process of settling in a colony 殖民（过程）
*the gradual settlement of the American West 向美国西部逐渐伸展的殖民过程.
(b) [C] place where colonists have settled 殖民地
*Dutch and English settlements in North America 荷兰人和英国人在北美的殖民地
* penal settlements in Australia 澳大利亚流放地.
4 (idm 习语) in settlement (of sth) as payment (for sth) 对（债务等的）清偿
*I enclose a cheque in settlement of your account. 兹附支票一张以结清贵处帐目.

n

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1【official agreement】
2【payment】
3【group of houses】
4【new area/places】
5【sinking】

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【OFFICIAL AGREEMENT】[C]
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 was fortunate enough to get her home as part of the divorce settlement .
　The company paid out over $10 million in an out-of-court settlement .
【PAYMENT】[U]formal
when you pay all the money that you owe
settlement of
　the settlement of all his debts
in settlement (of sth)
　Wyatt had received the property in settlement of a bet.
【GROUP OF HOUSES】[C]
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
【NEW AREA/PLACES】[U]
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
【SINKING】[U]
technical the process in which a building or the ground slowly sinks downwards
= subsidence

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COLLOCATES for sense 1
reach/achieve a settlement
negotiate a settlement
peace settlement (=one to end a war)
peaceful settlement (=one that is reached by discussion, without fighting)
divorce settlement (=an agreement about how money and property is divided at the end of a marriage)
out-of-court settlement (=when people make an agreement between themselves to avoid a court case)

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