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# setup

noun (a setup, setups; also set-up); verb as two words «set up» (set up, sets up, set up, setting up)

«setup» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A setup is the way things are arranged or organised: a gaming setup, the classroom setup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#m1)
2. Setup is the process of getting something ready to use, like a new computer or phone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#m2)
3. (informal) A setup is a trick planned to make someone look guilty or foolish: «It was a setup!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#m3)
4. In a story or joke, the setup is the first part that prepares for what comes next. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#m4)

### In the lessons

Everyday life: «setup» on a new tablet, a camping setup, a desk setup. In stories and detective films, a character who has been framed shouts «It's a setup!». In writing lessons, the setup is the beginning that introduces characters and setting before the problem. Computers: «setup file», «setup wizard».

### Examples

- Dad has a cool gaming setup in the spare room. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#x1)
- The setup of the new laptop took ages. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#x2)
- We need to set up the tables before the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#x3)
- The detective realised the whole thing was a setup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#x4)
- The joke's setup was long but the punchline was great. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#x5)
- I like the new classroom setup with groups of tables. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#x6)
- Follow the setup steps on the screen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/#x7)

### Note

Noun is one word (setup) or hyphenated (set-up, common in the UK); the verb is always two words: «set up the tent», not «setup the tent». Past of the verb «set up» is also «set up».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «setup» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/setup/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«setup» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/setup.html) on Mova free.