Library / English Dictionary

OFFSET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: offsetting   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly

Synonyms:

offset; set-back; setoff

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("offset" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Derivation:

offset (create an offset in)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A plate makes an inked impression on a rubber-blanketed cylinder, which in turn transfers it to the paper

Synonyms:

offset; offset printing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("offset" is a kind of...):

printing; printing process (reproduction by applying ink to paper as for publication)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "offset"):

photo-offset; photo-offset printing (a method of offset printing using photomechanical plates)

letterset printing (image is transferred from a relief type plate to a roller)

Derivation:

offset (produce by offset printing)

offset (cause (printed matter) to transfer or smear onto another surface)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A natural consequence of development

Synonyms:

branch; offset; offshoot; outgrowth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("offset" is a kind of...):

consequence; effect; event; issue; outcome; result; upshot (a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A horizontal branch from the base of plant that produces new plants from buds at its tips

Synonyms:

offset; runner; stolon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("offset" is a kind of...):

plant organ (a functional and structural unit of a plant or fungus)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A compensating equivalent

Synonyms:

counterbalance; offset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("offset" is a kind of...):

compensation (something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury))

Derivation:

offset (make up for)

offset (compensate for or counterbalance)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The time at which something is supposed to begin

Example:

she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her

Synonyms:

beginning; commencement; first; get-go; kickoff; offset; outset; showtime; start; starting time

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Hypernyms ("offset" is a kind of...):

point; point in time (an instant of time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "offset"):

birth (the time when something begins (especially life))

incipience; incipiency (beginning to exist or to be apparent)

starting point; terminus a quo (earliest limiting point)

threshold (the starting point for a new state or experience)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Produce by offset printing

Example:

offset the conference proceedings

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "offset" is one way to...):

impress; print (reproduce by printing)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

offset (a plate makes an inked impression on a rubber-blanketed cylinder, which in turn transfers it to the paper)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Create an offset in

Example:

offset a wall

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "offset" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

offset (structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause (printed matter) to transfer or smear onto another surface

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "offset" is one way to...):

transfer (move from one place to another)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

offset (a plate makes an inked impression on a rubber-blanketed cylinder, which in turn transfers it to the paper)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make up for

Example:

His skills offset his opponent's superior strength

Synonyms:

cancel; offset; set off

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "offset" is one way to...):

balance; equilibrate; equilibrise; equilibrize (bring into balance or equilibrium)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "offset"):

counteract; counterbalance; countervail; neutralize (oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

offset (a compensating equivalent)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Compensate for or counterbalance

Example:

offset deposits and withdrawals

Synonyms:

countervail; offset

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "offset" is one way to...):

balance; equilibrate; equilibrise; equilibrize (bring into balance or equilibrium)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

offset (a compensating equivalent)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The preparation usually contains conjugated estrogens, estradiol, or estrone sulfate and a progesterone derivative, such as medroxyprogesterone, norgestimate or norethindrone, which is used to offset an increased risk of estrogen-induced endometrial cancer.

(Hormone Replacement Preparation, NCI Thesaurus)

As roughly 30 percent of global permafrost carbon is concentrated within 7 percent of the permafrost region in Alaska, Canada and Siberia, this study's findings also renew scientific interest in how carbon uptake by thermokarst lakes offsets greenhouse gas emissions.

(Certain Arctic lakes store more greenhouse gases than they release, NSF)

Deep in the waterlogged peat of salt marshes, carbon is stored at much greater rates than in land ecosystems, serving as an offset to climate change caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) build-up in the atmosphere.

(Salt marshes' capacity to store carbon may be threatened by nitrogen pollution, National Science Foundation)

The researchers found that sedentary behavior is a significant predictor of thinning of the MTL and that physical activity, even at high levels, is insufficient to offset the harmful effects of sitting for extended periods.

(Sitting Is Bad for Your Brain, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

"We also found they offset the harmful effects of sodium, mostly taken as table salt, on blood pressure."

(Micronutrients can counter lead effects in blood pressure, SciDev.Net)

This causes an offset in position of the explosion site from the geometric center, determined by locating the center of the circular remnant.

(Chandra Movie Captures Expanding Debris from a Stellar Explosion, NASA)

EXAMPLE(S): Day 1, Days 10-20; OTHER NAME(S): Visit Day; NOTE(S): Derived from all the pauseQuantity values of the composite activity structures that this activity is a part of minus the offset of the reference activity.

(Planned Activity Study Day Range, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)