- with obj. resolve or reach an agreement about (an argument or problem)解决（问题）; 达成（协议）; 结束（争论）：
every effort was made to settle the dispute.
尽了一切努力解决争端。
- end (a legal dispute) by mutual agreement（通过相互达成协议）结束（法律纠纷）, 调解：
the matter was settled out of court
这件事庭外协议了结了
no obj. he sued for libel and then settled out of court.他以诽谤罪起诉, 后来私下了结了。
- determine; decide on确定; 决定：
exactly what goes into the legislation has not been settled
究竟立法包含什么还未确定
no obj. they had not yet settled on a date for the wedding.他们还没有确定结婚日期。
- pay (a debt or account)结清（债务, 账目）：
his bill was settled by charge card
他的账单是用信用卡结的
no obj. I settled up with your brother for my board and lodging.我的食宿费用已经和你兄弟结清了。
settle something on
give money or property to (someone) through a deed of settlement or a will（通过契约或遗嘱）赠予, 转让（钱, 财产）。
- no obj.
settle for
accept or agree to (something that one considers to be less than satisfactory)（无可奈何地）接受（或答应）： it was too cold for champagne so they settled for a cup of tea.
天太冷, 喝香槟不合适, 所以他们只好喝了杯茶。
- dated silence (someone considered a nuisance) by some means〈旧〉（以某种方式让讨厌者）住嘴：
he told me to hold my tongue or he would find a way to settle me.
他叫我不要说了, 否则就会想法让我闭嘴。
- no obj. adopt a more steady or secure style of life, especially in a permanent job and home安定, 安顿（尤指有固定工作和住所）：
one day I will settle down and raise a family.
总有一天我会安顿下来并成家的。
- with adverbial of place make one's permanent home somewhere定居：
in 1863 the family settled in London.
1863年这家人在伦敦定居了下来。
- begin to feel comfortable or established in a new home, situation, or job（在新的家里或新的环境中、新的工作岗位上）渐渐感到自在, 安下心来; 安顿下来：
she settled in happily with a foster family
她在一个收养她的家庭里愉快地安顿了下来
he had settled into his new job.
他已经在新的工作岗位上安下心来。
- with obj. establish a colony in在…建殖民地; 移居于, 殖民于：
European immigrants settled much of Australia.
欧洲移民在澳大利亚的许多地方建立了殖民地。
settle down to
turn one's attention to; apply oneself to将注意力转到; 开始专注于：Catherine settled down to her studies.
凯瑟琳安下心来学习。
- become or make calmer or quieter（使）平静（或镇定）下来：
no obj. after a few months the controversy settled down数月后争端平息了
with obj. try to settle your puppy down before going to bed.睡前要让你的小狗安定下来。
- no obj., with adverbial of place sit or come to rest in a comfortable position舒舒服服地坐下（或休息起来）：
he settled into an armchair.
他在一张扶手椅里舒舒服服地坐了下来。
- with obj. and adverbial of place make (someone) comfortable in a particular place or position使（某人）安顿下来：
she allowed him to settle her in the taxi.
她任凭他将她舒适地安顿在出租车里。
- with obj. move or adjust (something) so that it rests securely把（某物）安放好：
she settled her bag on her shoulder.
她把包在肩上安放好。
- fall or come down on to a surface降落; 停留：
dust from the mill had settled on the roof.
来自工厂的尘埃飘落在屋顶上。
- no obj.(of suspended particles) sink slowly in a liquid to form sediment; (of a liquid) become clear or still through this process（悬浮的微粒）沉淀; （液体因杂质沉淀）变得清澈（或静止）：
sediment settles near the bottom of the tank
沉积物在水箱的底部附近沉淀
he watched his pint settling.
他看着他的那杯啤酒一点点地变清。
- no obj.(of an object or objects) gradually sink down under its or their own weight（物体在其自身的重量下）沉降：
they listened to the soft ticking and creaking as the house settled.
他们听着房子下沉时发出的轻柔的滴滴答答和嘎吱嘎吱的声音。
- no obj.(of a ship) begin to sink（船）开始下沉。
settle one's affairs（或estate）
- make any necessary arrangements, such as writing a will, before one's death（死亡前）安排后事。
settle someone's hash
- 见HASH1.