settle

/ˈsetl/ verb

Definition

› [T] to pay money that you owe: settle a bill/debt Only half of their clients settled their accounts on time.

› [I or T] to end an argument by reaching an agreement to do something: settle a dispute/argument/lawsuit The company paid $5 million to former employees to settle claims of unfair dismissal. Union and management were urged to settle their differences. The company decided it was cheaper to settle rather than fight the case in court.

› to make a final decision about something: We need a final meeting to settle the matter once and for all. OK, so that's settled then.

› [I] FINANCE if prices, values, etc. settle, they stop moving up or down: They expect house price inflation to settle around 10%.settle at sth After a rocky ride, shares in the entertainment company settled at $13.

settle out of court › LAW to end an argument without having to go to a court of law, usually by agreeing to the payment of a particular amount of money: In view of the legal costs, they decided to settle out of court.

(Definition of settle verb from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)