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1. A gradual sinking to a lower level
   - subsiding, subsidence

1. Fall slowly to a stable position, usually on a surface or the ground
   "dust settled on the roofs";
   - settle down
    
2. Bring to an end; come to a final conclusion
   "The case was settled";
   - decide, resolve, adjudicate
    
3. Settle conclusively; come to terms
   "We finally settled the argument";
   - square off, square up, determine
    
4. Take up residence and become established
   "The immigrants settled in the Midwest";
   - locate
    
5. Come to terms
   "After some discussion we finally settled";
   - reconcile, patch up, make up, conciliate
    
6. (of a ship etc.) go under water
   - sink, go down, go under
    
7. Become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
   "He finally settled down";
   - root, take root, steady down, settle down
    
8. Become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet
   "The roar settled to a thunder"; "The wind settled in the West"; "it is settling to rain"; "A cough settled in her chest"; "Her mood settled into lethargy"
    
9. Establish or develop as a residence
   "He settled the farm 200 years ago"; "This land was settled by Germans"
    
10. Come to rest
     
11. Arrange or fix in the desired order
    "She settled the teacart"
     
12. Accept despite lack of complete satisfaction
    "We settled for a lower price"
     
13. End a legal dispute by arriving at a settlement
    "The two parties finally settled"
     
14. Dispose of; make a financial settlement
     
15. Become clear by the sinking of particles
    "the liquid gradually settled"
     
16. Cause to become clear by forming a sediment (of liquids)
     
17. Sink down or precipitate
    "the mud settles when the waters become calm";
    - subside
     
18. Fix firmly
    "He settled himself in the chair";
    - ensconce
     
19. Get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury
    "I finally settled with my old enemy";
    - get back
     
20. Make final; put the last touches on; put into final form
    "let's settle the proposal";
    - finalize, finalise [Brit], nail down
     
21. Form a community
    "The Swedes settled in Minnesota"
     
22. Come as if by falling
    "Night settled";
    - fall, descend

Derived forms: settlings

See also: patch, percolate

Type of: accept, agree, arrange, become, build up, change, come, come down, conclude, concord, concur, consent, descend, develop, end, fall, fight, fix up, get, go, go down, go for, halt, hold, lay, place, pose, position, put, resolve, set, set up, sink, sinking, stabilise [Brit], stabilize, stop, struggle, terminate

Antonym: float

Encyclopedia: Settling