Dictionary
1offset
noun off·set \ˈȯf-ˌset\
Definition of OFFSET
2
a (1) : a short prostrate lateral shoot arising from the base of a plant (2) : a small bulb arising from the base of another bulb b : a lateral or collateral branch (as of a family or race) : offshoot c : a spur from a range of hills
3
a : a horizontal ledge on the face of a wall formed by a diminution of its thickness above b : displacement c : an abrupt change in the dimension or profile of an object or the part set off by such change
4
: something that sets off to advantage or embellishes something else : foil
5
: an abrupt bend in an object by which one part is turned aside out of line
6
: something that serves to counterbalance or to compensate for something else; especially : either of two balancing ledger items
7
a : unintentional transfer of ink (as from a freshly printed sheet) b : a printing process in which an inked impression from a plate is first made on a rubber-blanketed cylinder and then transferred to the paper being printed
— offset adjective or adverb
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First Known Use of OFFSET
circa 1555
Related to OFFSET
- Synonyms
- balance, canceler (or canceller), corrective, counter, counteraction, counterforce, counterpoise, counterweight, equipoise, neutralizer, counterbalance
- Antonyms
- continuance, continuation
Other Architecture Terms
Rhymes with OFFSET
abet, aigrette, all wet, backset, baguette, banquette, barbette, barquette, barrette, beget, beset, blanquette, boneset, brevet, briquette, brochette, brunet, burette, burnet, cadet, cassette, cermet, Colette, coquet, coquette, cornet, corselet, corvette, coset, courgette, croquette, curette, curvet, cuvette, dinette, dip net, diskette, dragnet, duet, egret, fan-jet, fishnet, fly net, forget, gazette, georgette, Gillette, gillnet, gill net, godet, grisette, handset, hard-set, headset, ink-jet, inlet, inset, jet set, Juliet, kismet, layette, life net, lorgnette, lunette, maquette, Marquette, mind-set, mist net, moonset, moquette, motet, musette, nerve net, noisette, nonet, nymphet, octet, onset, outlet, outset, paillette, pallette, palmette, pipette, piquet, planchette, pound net, poussette, preset, quartet, quickset, quintet, raclette, ramet, ramjet, regret, reset, revet, rocket, roomette, rosette, roulette, saw set, septet, sestet, sextet, sharp-set, soubrette, spinet, stage set, stylet, sublet, subset, sunset, syrette, tea set, thickset, Tibet, toilette, tonette, trijet, twinset, typeset, Undset, unset, upset, vedette, vignette, well-set
2offset
verb off·set \ˈȯf-ˌset, vt senses are also ȯf-ˈ\
: to cancel or reduce the effect of (something) : to create an equal balance between two things
off·setoff·set·ting
Full Definition of OFFSET
transitive verb
1
a : to place over against something : balance <credits offset debits> b : to serve as a counterbalance for : compensate <his speed offset his opponent's greater weight>
2
: to form an offset in <offset a wall>
intransitive verb
: to become marked by offset
See offset defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of OFFSET
1792
Related to OFFSET
OFFSET Defined for Kids
offset
verb off·set \ˈȯf-ˌset\
offsetoff·set·ting
Definition of OFFSET for Kids
: to make up for <Gains in one state offset losses in another.>
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