setback

setback
/set"bak'/, n.
1. a check to progress; a reverse or defeat: The new law was a setback.
2. Archit. a recession of the upper part of a building from the building line, as to lighten the structure or to permit a desired amount of light and air to reach ground level at the foot of the building.
3. an act or instance of setting back: A nightly setback of your home thermostats can save a great deal of fuel.
4. Also, set-back. a downward temperature adjustment of a thermostat, esp. performed automatically, as by a timer.
[1665-75; n. use of v. phrase set back]

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In architecture, a steplike recession in the profile of a high-rise building.

Usually dictated by building codes to allow sunlight to reach streets and lower floors, the building must take another step back from the street for every specified added height interval. Without building setbacks, many of New York City's streets would be in constant shadow. In the 1920s architects drew attention to their setbacks with decorative devices
mosaics; Chinese, Mayan, or Greek motifs; or geometric blocks
but later architects deemphasized them. The International Style glass-wall skyscraper was typically built without intermittent setbacks, but architects met zoning requirements by creating one huge setback at ground level that created a plaza. The late 20th century saw a return to decorative setbacks.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • setback — (n.) 1670s, reversal, check to progress, from SET (Cf. set) (v.) + BACK (Cf. back) (adv.). Meaning space between a building and a property line is from 1916. To set (someone) back cost is from 1900 …   Etymology dictionary

  • setback — [n] disappointment about face*, backset, bath*, blow, bottom, check, comedown, defeat, delay, difficulty, drawing board*, flipflop*, hindrance, hitch*, hold up, impediment, misfortune, obstacle, rebuff, regress, regression, reversal, reversal of… …   New thesaurus

  • setback — ► NOUN ▪ a reversal or check in progress …   English terms dictionary

  • setback — [set′bak΄] n. 1. a reversal, check, or interruption in progress; relapse; upset 2. an upper part of a wall or building set back to form a steplike section 3. PITCH2 (n. 8) …   English World dictionary

  • setback — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ temporary ▪ early, initial ▪ big, huge, major, serious, severe, significant …   Collocations dictionary

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  • setback — UK [ˈsetˌbæk] / US noun [countable] Word forms setback : singular setback plural setbacks a problem that delays or that stops progress or makes a situation worse setback for: Falling share prices may be another setback for the troubled economy.… …   English dictionary

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