Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Set \Set\, n.
   1. The act of setting, as of the sun or other heavenly body;
      descent; hence, the close; termination. ``Locking at the
      set of day.'' --Tennyson.

            The weary sun hath made a golden set. --Shak.

   2. That which is set, placed, or fixed. Specifically:
      (a) A young plant for growth; as, a set of white thorn.
      (b) That which is staked; a wager; a venture; a stake;
          hence, a game at venture. [Obs. or R.]

                We will in France, by God's grace, play a set
                Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.
                                                  --Shak.

                That was but civil war, an equal set. --Dryden.
      (c) (Mech.) Permanent change of figure in consequence of
          excessive strain, as from compression, tension,
          bending, twisting, etc.; as, the set of a spring.
      (d) A kind of punch used for bending, indenting, or giving
          shape to, metal; as, a saw set.
      (e) (Pile Driving) A piece placed temporarily upon the
          head of a pile when the latter cannot be reached by
          the weight, or hammer, except by means of such an
          intervening piece. [Often incorrectly written {sett}.]
      (f) (Carp.) A short steel spike used for driving the head
          of a nail below the surface.

   3. [Perhaps due to confusion with sect, sept.] A number of
      things of the same kind, ordinarily used or classed
      together; a collection of articles which naturally
      complement each other, and usually go together; an
      assortment; a suit; as, a set of chairs, of china, of
      surgical or mathematical instruments, of books, etc. [In
      this sense, sometimes incorrectly written {sett}.]

   4. A number of persons associated by custom, office, common
      opinion, quality, or the like; a division; a group; a
      clique. ``Others of our set.'' --Tennyson.

            This falls into different divisions, or sets, of
            nations connected under particular religions. --R.
                                                  P. Ward.

   5. Direction or course; as, the set of the wind, or of a
      current.

   6. In dancing, the number of persons necessary to execute a
      quadrille; also, the series of figures or movements
      executed.

   7. The deflection of a tooth, or of the teeth, of a saw,
      which causes the the saw to cut a kerf, or make an
      opening, wider than the blade.

   8.
      (a) A young oyster when first attached.
      (b) Collectively, the crop of young oysters in any
          locality.

   9. (Tennis) A series of as many games as may be necessary to
      enable one side to win six. If at the end of the tenth
      game the score is a tie, the set is usually called a deuce
      set, and decided by an application of the rules for
      playing off deuce in a game. See {Deuce}.

   10. (Type Founding) That dimension of the body of a type
       called by printers the width.

   {Dead set}.
       (a) The act of a setter dog when it discovers the game,
           and remains intently fixed in pointing it out.
       (b) A fixed or stationary condition arising from obstacle
           or hindrance; a deadlock; as, to be at a dead set.
       (c) A concerted scheme to defraud by gaming; a determined
           onset.

   {To make a dead set}, to make a determined onset, literally
      or figuratively.

   Syn: Collection; series; group. See {Pair}.



   {Dead plate} (Mach.), a solid covering over a part of a fire
      grate, to prevent the entrance of air through that part.
      

   {Dead pledge}, a mortgage. See {Mortgage}.

   {Dead point}. (Mach.) See {Dead center}.

   {Dead reckoning} (Naut.), the method of determining the place
      of a ship from a record kept of the courses sailed as
      given by compass, and the distance made on each course as
      found by log, with allowance for leeway, etc., without the
      aid of celestial observations.

   {Dead rise}, the transverse upward curvature of a vessel's
      floor.

   {Dead rising}, an elliptical line drawn on the sheer plan to
      determine the sweep of the floorheads throughout the
      ship's length.

   {Dead-Sea apple}. See under {Apple}.

   {Dead set}. See under {Set}.

   {Dead shot}.
       (a) An unerring marksman.
       (b) A shot certain to be made.

   {Dead smooth}, the finest cut made; -- said of files.

   {Dead wall} (Arch.), a blank wall unbroken by windows or
      other openings.

   {Dead water} (Naut.), the eddy water closing in under a
      ship's stern when sailing.

   {Dead weight}.
       (a) A heavy or oppressive burden. --Dryden.
       (b) (Shipping) A ship's lading, when it consists of heavy
           goods; or, the heaviest part of a ship's cargo.
       (c) (Railroad) The weight of rolling stock, the live
           weight being the load. --Knight.

   {Dead wind} (Naut.), a wind directly ahead, or opposed to the
      ship's course.

   {To be dead}, to die. [Obs.]

            I deme thee, thou must algate be dead. --Chaucer.

   Syn: Inanimate; deceased; extinct. See {Lifeless}.

Source : WordNet®

dead set
     adj : fixed in your purpose; "bent on going to the theater"; "dead
           set against intervening"; "out to win every event"
           [syn: {bent}, {bent on(p)}, {dead set(p)}, {intent
           on(p)}, {out to(p)}]