settles
settles — 動詞
- settlespresent simple I / you / we / they
- settleses3rd person singular
- settlesing-ing form
- settlesedpast simple
1. to stop a quarrel or legal case by having everyone involved agree on a solution
解決;和解
結束爭端,達成協議
to stop a quarrel or legal case by having everyone involved agree on a solution
Esme and her brother finally settled their argument about who would use the car first.
Esme 和她的弟弟終於解決了關於誰先用車這件事的爭吵。
settle + noun phrase (argument)
After months of meetings, the two companies settled their dispute out of court.
經過數月的會議,兩間公司在庭外和解了他們的糾紛。
settle + dispute out of court
Joon and his neighbour settled their disagreement by agreeing to share the garden.
Joon 和鄰居達成協議共享花園,平息了雙方的分歧。
The lawyers helped both sides settle the case before it went to trial.
律師協助雙方在案件進入審判前達成和解。
Noor settled the matter by offering to pay for the damage to the fence.
Noor 提議賠償圍欄的損壞費用,從而解決了這件事。
- resolve
more formal, often used for conflicts or problems
- sort out
informal, common in everyday conversation
- come to terms
emphasises reaching a mutual agreement
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (dispute/argument/matter)
settle + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common with nouns such as dispute, argument, case, matter, and lawsuit. When used intransitively, the subject is the disagreeing parties and no object follows: 'They settled after three hours of discussion.'
常見錯誤
2. to make the final arrangements for practical or financial matters, often by payi
安排;結清
處理或結算事務
to make the final arrangements for practical or financial matters, often by paying or organising what is needed
Yael settled all the travel arrangements before the group trip began.
Yael 在團體旅行出發前安排好了所有的交通事宜。
settle + noun phrase (arrangements)
Let me settle the bill before we leave the restaurant, please.
離開餐廳前請讓我先把帳結清。
settle the bill = pay the bill
The estate agent helped Dario settle the paperwork for the house.
房產仲介協助 Dario 處理好了購房文件。
We need to settle the details of the contract by Friday afternoon.
我們必須在星期五下午之前敲定合約細節。
Pedro settled his father's financial affairs after the funeral.
Pedro 在父親的葬禮後處理好了他的財務事務。
- finalise
more formal, used in business English
- take care of
informal, covers organising and paying
- sort out
informal British English, common in conversation
- leave open
to not finalise or resolve
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (bill/affairs/details)
用法筆記
Frequently used in business and everyday contexts with bill, account, affairs, and details. The sense of paying is strongest with 'settle the bill' or 'settle an account'.
常見錯誤
3. to move your body into a comfortable or relaxed position, especially when sittin
安頓;坐好
調整到舒適姿勢
to move your body into a comfortable or relaxed position, especially when sitting or lying down
The old cat settled on the warm rug in front of the fireplace.
老貓在壁爐前溫暖的地毯上安頓了下來。
settle + on + surface
Ramón settled into the armchair with a cup of tea and a newspaper.
Ramón 端著一杯茶和一份報紙坐進扶手椅裡。
settle + into + furniture
Shanti settled her baby into the pushchair before going for a walk.
Shanti 在出門散步前把寶寶安頓好在嬰兒車裡。
Daniel settled back against the sofa cushions and closed his eyes.
Daniel 往沙發靠墊上舒服地一靠,閉上了眼睛。
Eleni settled herself on the garden bench to enjoy the afternoon sun.
Eleni 在花園長椅上坐好,享受午後的陽光。
- get comfortable
more general, describes the process
- snuggle
more informal and affectionate, often for children or pets
- nestle
implies pressing gently into something soft
文法句型
settle + into + noun phrase
settle + back/down
settle + reflexive pronoun + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by 'into' (for seats), 'on' (for surfaces), 'back' (for leaning back), or 'down'. The object can be yourself or someone else, as in 'settle the baby in the cot'.
常見錯誤
4. in sports or games, to begin playing in a calm and focused way after an initial
進入狀態
比賽中漸入佳境
in sports or games, to begin playing in a calm and focused way after an initial period of adjustment
The team took a few minutes to settle into the game after the opening whistle.
球隊在開球後花了幾分鐘才進入比賽狀態。
settle + into + the game
The tennis player settled into a steady rhythm after losing the first set.
那位網球選手在輸掉第一盤之後逐漸找到了穩定的節奏。
settle + into + a rhythm
Once the Lyon players settled, they scored three goals in the second half against Porto.
里昂球員進入狀態後,在下半場對波爾圖踢進了三分。
After a shaky opening, the young chess player settled and began to play with real confidence.
開局不穩之後,那位年輕的西洋棋棋手靜下心來,開始展現真正的實力。
After a chaotic first quarter, the Osaka Eagles settled and began passing the ball more effectively.
經過混亂的第一節之後,大阪老鷹隊進入狀態,開始更有效地傳球。
- find your rhythm
describes the same idea of reaching a comfortable performance level
- get into the flow
informal, used in sports and creative work
文法句型
settle + into + noun phrase (game/match/rhythm)
用法筆記
Used mainly in sports contexts, often followed by 'into the game/match' or 'into a rhythm'. The subject is a player or team; the meaning is about becoming comfortable enough to perform well.
常見錯誤
5. to start living permanently in a place, especially after moving around or travel
定居
永久居住在某地
to start living permanently in a place, especially after moving around or travelling
After years of travelling, Obi finally settled in a small coastal village.
Obi 旅行多年後,最後在一個小漁村定居下來。
settle + in + place
Mei and her partner settled in Canada after leaving their home country.
Mei 和伴侶離開家鄉後在加拿大定居。
Many nurses move to big cities for training but later settle in smaller towns.
許多護理師到大城市接受訓練,但後來在較小的城鎮定居。
The young family settled in the countryside after living in the city for a decade.
這對年輕夫婦在都市住了十年後,搬到鄉下定居。
Eleni found it hard to settle in a new country at first, but now she loves it.
Eleni 起初覺得在一個新國家定居很困難,但現在她愛上了這裡。
- put down roots
informal, implies building a life and making connections
- establish yourself
more formal, covers career and social life
- take up residence
formal, used in official contexts
文法句型
settle + prepositional phrase (in/here/abroad)
用法筆記
Often used with 'in' followed by a location. The related phrasal verb 'settle down' adds the idea of starting a family or a stable life, not just a fixed residence.
常見錯誤
6. of a group of people, to arrive in a new region and begin living there, farming
殖民;開墾
移入新地並開墾居住
of a group of people, to arrive in a new region and begin living there, farming the land, and building communities
The Dutch were among the first Europeans to settle the island after the year sixteen hundred.
荷蘭人是在一六○○年之後最早殖民這座島嶼的歐洲人之一。
settle + region (transitive, historical)
The valley was gradually settled by farming families who built homes along the river.
這片山谷逐漸由沿河蓋房的農耕家庭開墾定居。
passive: was settled by [group]
Pioneers from the east settled the western plains during the late nineteenth century.
來自東部的開拓者在十九世紀晚期殖民了西部平原。
European settlers from many countries settled the coastal regions of South America over several centuries.
來自許多國家的歐洲移民在幾個世紀間陸續在南美洲沿海地區定居開墾。
The government offered free land to anyone willing to go and settle the northern territory.
政府向任何願意前往北部領地開墾定居的人提供免費土地。
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (region/land/territory)
settle + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Transitive use ('settle a region') is historical or geographical. Modern individual moves use 'settle in' (sense 5). The subject is typically a group or nation, not a single person.
常見錯誤
7. to fall slowly through a liquid or the air until reaching the bottom (used for s
沉澱;下沉
固體微粒落到底部停下
to fall slowly through a liquid or the air until reaching the bottom (used for solid particles, dust, or snow); or to sink gradually over time (used for buildings or the ground).
Hannah poured the coffee and waited for the grounds to settle at the bottom.
Hannah 倒好咖啡,等待咖啡渣沉澱到杯底。
collocation: coffee grounds / sediment settles
After the earthquake, fine dust settled on every book and shelf in the library.
地震過後,細微的灰塵落在圖書館裡每一本書和架子上。
settle + on + surface for dust / particles
Builders left the wet concrete to settle overnight before laying the floor tiles.
工人讓濕水泥靜置一夜沉澱,然後才鋪上地磚。
The silt from the river slowly settled, leaving clear water above the muddy bed.
河水中的泥沙慢慢沉澱下來,在泥濘的河床上方留下清澈的水。
Over many years, the old stone farmhouse settled a few inches into the damp ground.
多年過去,這棟古老石砌農舍在潮濕的地面上下沉了幾英吋。
文法句型
settle + (in/on/at) + noun phrase
settle something + (in/on)
用法筆記
Frequently used for particles (sediment, dust, grounds) falling through a liquid or air and coming to rest. Also common for buildings or ground sinking gradually.
8. to pay an outstanding financial obligation, such as a bill, loan, or account, in
清償;結清
支付所欠的款項
to pay an outstanding financial obligation, such as a bill, loan, or account, in full so that nothing remains owed.
Iker settled his electricity bill over the phone before the disconnection date.
Iker 在停電通知寄達前打電話繳清了電費帳單。
collocation: settle a bill
The couple finally settled the last of their student loans five years after graduation.
這對夫婦畢業五年後終於還清了最後一筆就學貸款。
collocation: settle a loan / debt
Yasmin settled her credit card balance in full to avoid paying any interest.
Yasmin 全額繳清信用卡餘額,以免支付任何利息。
The company settled the invoice with the supplier on the same day it was received.
該公司在收到發票的同一天就結清了供應商的款項。
- owe
the state of still having an unsettled debt
文法句型
settle + noun phrase (bill / debt / account / invoice)
用法筆記
Object is typically a bill, debt, account, invoice, loan, or balance. More formal than 'pay'; strongly implies finality — the account is closed once settled.
常見錯誤
9. to become quiet and calm after being noisy, active, or upset; or to make a perso
靜下;安撫
從激動吵鬧中安靜下來
to become quiet and calm after being noisy, active, or upset; or to make a person or animal become quiet and calm.
After the fire alarm stopped, the children slowly settled and returned to their desks.
火災警報停止後,孩子們慢慢安靜下來,回到自己的座位上。
intransitive: group of people settle after excitement
Nora took three deep breaths to settle her racing heart before the exam began.
Nora 做了三次深呼吸,在考試開始前安撫自己急促的心跳。
transitive: settle + heart / nerves
The puppy finally settled in its basket after running around the garden for an hour.
小狗在花園裡跑了一個小時,終於在籃子裡安靜了下來。
Warm milk helped the baby settle and fall asleep in his mother's arms.
溫牛奶幫助嬰兒平靜下來,在母親懷裡睡著了。
The classroom settled as soon as the teacher raised her hand and waited for silence.
老師一舉起手等待安靜,教室便靜了下來。
- calm down
more common and slightly more informal
- quieten down
primarily British; often used for children or crowds
- soothe
transitive only; gentler, implies comforting
文法句型
settle (down)
settle + noun (someone / nerves / heart)
用法筆記
'Settle down' is especially common for people or animals gradually becoming calm. Often used in contexts of children, crowds, or pets after periods of energy or noise.
10. to reach and stay at a particular level, value, or state after a period of chang
穩定;固定
經變化後停留在某水平或狀態
to reach and stay at a particular level, value, or state after a period of change or movement, often used for prices, temperatures, conversations, or rhythms.
After weeks of change, the exchange rate settled at one dollar and thirty-five cents.
經過幾週的變化之後,匯率穩定在一美元兌一百三十五美分。
settle + at + value for prices / rates
The temperature in the desert settled at around forty degrees by mid-afternoon.
沙漠的氣溫在下午時穩定在大約四十度。
settle + at + temperature
During dinner, their conversation settled on the best way to renovate the kitchen.
晚餐時,他們的談話轉移到如何最好地翻新廚房的話題上。
Selim's breathing settled into a slow, peaceful rhythm as the guided meditation ended.
引導冥想結束時,Selim 的呼吸逐漸恢復到平穩緩慢的節奏。
- fluctuate
the opposite of reaching and staying at a steady level
文法句型
settle + at + value / price / temperature
settle + into + state / condition
settle + on + topic
用法筆記
Common with measurable values: prices, exchange rates, temperatures, heart rates. Also used for abstract movement — conversations 'settle on' a topic or people 'settle into' a routine.
settles — 名詞
1. a type of wooden seat that has armrests, a tall back, and a hollow base that dou
箱式長椅
有儲物空間的高背木長椅
a type of wooden seat that has armrests, a tall back, and a hollow base that doubles as a storage chest for keeping household things such as blankets or firewood
The old wooden settle in the farmhouse kitchen had blankets stored inside its base.
農舍廚房裡那張舊箱式長椅,底座裡放著毯子。
collocation: wooden settle / stored inside its base
Valentina found a hand-carved settle at the antique market with space for firewood underneath.
Valentina 在古董市場找到一張手工雕刻的箱式長椅,底下可以放柴火。
noun describing antique furniture
Kemi lifted the settle's seat to get a board game from the storage compartment.
Kemi 掀起箱式長椅的座板,從儲物格裡拿出一盒桌遊。
The innkeeper put soft cushions on the settle so guests could sit by the fire.
旅館老闆在箱式長椅鋪上軟墊,讓客人能坐在爐火旁。
A long settle stood by the cottage wall, its back carved with flowers and birds.
一張長長的箱式長椅擺在農舍牆邊,高背板上刻著花朵與小鳥。
用法筆記
Mostly found in descriptions of antique or traditional furniture, especially in farmhouses or old inns. The settle is distinct from a regular bench because of its high back and built-in storage compartment under the seat.