offset

off- + set

Pronunciation

noun

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈɒf.sɛt/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈɑf.sɛt/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

verb

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ɒfˈsɛt/ or /ˈɒf.sɛt/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ɑfˈsɛt/ or /ˈɑf.sɛt/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form offset

Third-person singular offsets

Past tense offset

Past participle offset

Present participle offsetting

1. (transitive) If $x$ offsets $y$, the loss (because) of $y$ is balanced by $x$.

   The school will provide limited scholarships to offset the cost of tuition.

   Increases in efficiency partially offset the increased costs.

   The few problems are more than offset by the relatively large number of successes.

2. (transitive) If you offset $x$ against $y$, you compare of contrast them.

   All this solid colour is offset by the tiny yellow green flowers.

3. The past tense and past participle of offset.

Synonyms

• balance

Noun

Singular offset

Plural offsets

1. (countable) An offset is something that balances (the loss of) something else.
2. (uncountable) (technical) A particular way of printing where the ink moves from surface A to B and then from B to the final C.
3. (countable) (technical) The image produced by this kind of printing.
4. (countable & uncountable) (technical) An offset is the distance that something moves away from where it is supposed to be or where it was.

Synonyms

• lithography

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