[syn: incite, instigate, set off, stir up]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
set off
v 1: put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction";
"actuate the circuits" [syn: trip, actuate, trigger,
activate, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off,
touch off]
2: leave; "The family took off for Florida" [syn: depart,
part, start, start out, set forth, set off, set
out, take off]
3: direct attention to, as if by means of contrast; "This dress
accentuates your nice figure!"; "I set off these words by
brackets" [syn: bring out, set off]
4: cause to burst with a violent release of energy; "We exploded
the nuclear bomb" [syn: explode, detonate, blow up,
set off]
5: make up for; "His skills offset his opponent's superior
strength" [syn: cancel, offset, set off]
6: set in motion or cause to begin; "The guide set the tour off
to a good start"
7: provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest
among the people" [syn: incite, instigate, set off,
stir up]