set off

Verb

• provoke or stir up
  • incite a riot
    
  • set off great unrest among the people
    

• set in motion or cause to begin
  • The guide set the tour off to a good start
    

• make up for
  • His skills offset his opponent's superior strength
    

• cause to burst with a violent release of energy
  • We exploded the nuclear bomb
    

• direct attention to, as if by means of contrast
  • This dress accentuates your nice figure!
    
  • I set off these words by brackets
    

• leave
  • The family took off for Florida
    

• put in motion or move to act
  • trigger a reaction
    
  • actuate the circuits
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  incite , instigate , stir up , cancel , offset , explode , detonate , blow up , bring out , depart , part , start , start out , set forth , set out , take off , trip , actuate , trigger , activate , spark off , spark , trigger off , touch off