Set(s) -- 2

Question

Hi,

A king/queen size of mattress alone cannot be called a set. Correct?

Is it true that a set always consists of more than one component (i.e. at least two components)?
For instance, a king set consists of two components: a mattress + springs;
a TV set consists of many components: transistors + resistors + capacitors + printed circuit boards + screen + power connector + remote control + ......

Thanks,

Note: In math, a set may contain any number of element(s) or even without any element (i.e. empty set). 0, 1, 2, 3, ........

LanguageLover · Accepted Answer

Hi MTL,
Yes, you're right, a set is always a group of things, items, ... Here is the definition and examples from the Cambridge online.

set (GROUP) [Show phonetics]
noun [C]
1 a group of similar things that belong together in some way:
We bought Charles and Mandy a set of cutlery as a wedding present.
I always keep a tool set in the back of my car.
The doctor said that he hadn't seen this particular set of symptoms before.
We need to establish a new set of priorities.

2 a number of items or pieces of equipment needed for a particular activity, especially playing a game:
a chess/train/chemistry set

3 SPECIALIZED In mathematics, a set is a group of objects with stated characteristics.

set [Show phonetics]
group noun [C]
a group of people who have similar interests and ways of living:
the London set
She's got in with a very arty set.
The smart set is/are going to the Caprice restaurant this season.

As you know, a set in math can have no object. When it comes to the professional language, words do not necessarily follow thier linguistic restrictions, they are defined by the rules of math for example, or any other field they are being used in. I'm thinking of another example and I'll add it here as soon as something comes to my mind.

However, there was seperate scense introducing the TV set both in the Cobuild and the Cambridge.
Here is the definition from the Cobuild:
A set is an appliance. For example a television set is a television.
So as you see, we do not consider a TV to be a set of transistors, screen,.... May be it was this notion that gave the existance to a TV set, but it is not a part of its definition or meaning anymore.
Hope it helps,
Cheers,

Meantolearn · Answer

0 Hi, 02br
02br
00I think some of the questions were not really answered. 02br
02br
00A queen set means a mattress plus springs. (two components) 02br
02br
00A TV set doesn't mean a TV plus something else. A TV set simply means a TV. 02br
02br
00I'm wondering why a TV set is so named a set? The only thing that comes to my mind is that a TV set contains a lot of components inside its box,such as transistors, resistors, capacitors etc. But I'm not so sure that's the right idea. 02br
02br
00Thanks, 0-

LanguageLover · Answer

0 Hi MTL, 02br
00Your fiest question was answered already answered in both this thread and the previous one that you had sent a few days ago, it's not necessary to confirm it again unless you've got it wrong. But it's ok. As you see in my answer and CalifJim, a set always consists of components, in your example, a queen set includes mattress and ..... 02br
00The "appliance" sense, or TV in your example, however, doesn't consist of components, it's a unit. Though, it's possible it's called set in the first place because it consists of transistors,.... It's most likely this reason for referring to it as a set, but when we say "a TV set", we donot mean the same set we are referring to seperate pieces of queen set, a chess set,... 02br
00I hope that it helps. 02br
00Cheers, 0-

Meantolearn · Answer

0 I'd like to see a second opinion from native speakers. 0-

LanguageLover · Answer

0 I think CalifJim is a native speaker. Anyway, you can wait till another one comes across your thread. 0-

Abbie1948 · Answer

0 Hi Mean, 02br
02br
00I'm a native speaker, and agree with Jim and LL 050010id1

Meantolearn · Answer

0 Hi Abbie, 02br
02br
00Please answer my questions one by one. 02br
02br
001. A king/queen size of mattress alone cannot be called a set. Correct? 02br
02br
002. Is it true that 'a set' always consists of more than one component (i.e. at least two components)? 02br
02br
00For instance, 02br
00a king set consists of two components: a mattress + springs; 02br
00a chess set consists of many pieces; 02br
00a train set -- not sure what it is, but I think it consists of many pieces; 02br
00a chemitry set -- not sure what it is, but I think it consists of many pieces; 02br
00the London set - probably means some fellows live or from London; 02br
00arty set - probably means artists (at least two); 02br
00smart set - probably means smart guys (at least two). 02br
02br
003. The most troublesome term is 'TV set.' A TV set doesn't mean a TV + a VCR + a DVD player. A TV set simply means a TV. So, I'm wondering why a TV set is so named a set? The only thing that comes to my mind is that a TV set contains a lot of components inside its box,such as transistors, resistors, capacitors etc. But I'm not so sure that's why it's so named. What do you think? Love to hear from you. 02br
02br
00Thanks for LL's comments also 0-

Abbie1948 · Answer

0 Hi Mean, 02br
02br
00I really don't know what I can add to LL & Jim's responses to you. 02br
02br
001. A king/queen size of mattress alone cannot be called a set. Correct? *** correct 02br
02br
002. Is it true that 'a set' always consists of more than one component (i.e. at least two components)? *** correct 02br
02br
02br
00a king set consists of two components: a mattress + springs; *** correct 02br
02br
00a chess set consists of many pieces; *** correct 02br
02br
00a train set -- not sure what it is, but I think it consists of many pieces; *** correct 02br
00(a 'train set' is a child's toy comprising a railway and trains with carriages) 02br
02br
00a chemitry set -- not sure what it is, but I think it consists of many pieces; *** correct (again, a toy for older children with which hey can conduct basic and safe chemistry experiments at home) 02br
02br
00the London set - probably means some fellows live or from London; ***'set' in this sense means a particular group of people who have interests in common. 02br
02br
00arty set - probably means artists *** see above 02br
02br
00smart set - probably means smart guys *** see above 02br
02br
00 "The most troublesome term is 'TV set.' " 02br
02br
00LL was quite right in her explanation; this is the definition from Webster 02br
02br
00Set "an apparatus of electronic components assembled so as to function as a unit, e.g. TV set. 0-

LanguageLover · Answer

0Thanks Abbie,050010id1

Meantolearn · Answer

0 Hi Abbie, 02br
02br
00Thank you so much for the detailed answers. Appreciate it. 02br
02br
00re. the London set 02br
00Say a group of soccer fans living in or from London, can they be called 'the London set'? 02br
02br
00Say a group of anti-war fellows living in or from San Fransisco, can they be called 'the San Fransisco set'? 02br
02br
00Say a group of bull fighting lovers living in or from Madrid, can they be called 'the Madrid set'? 02br
02br
00re. arty set 02br
00Probably, I can guess what a 'arty set' is ---- a group of people love art works. 02br
02br
00re. smart set 02br
00But what is a 'smart set'? a group of people consider themselves smart? 02br
02br
02br
00Thanks again 0-

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