From Middle English insetten, from Old English insettan (“to set in, institute, appoint”), equivalent to in- + set. Cognate with Dutch inzetten (“to insert, set in”), Low German insetten (“to set in”), German einsetzen (“to insert, employ”), Danish indsætte (“to insert”), Swedish insätta (“to inset, induct, institute”), Icelandic innsetja (“to install”).
- (transitive) To set in; infix or implant.
- (transitive) To insert something.
- (transitive) To add an inset to something.
inset (plural insets)
- a smaller thing set into a larger thing; such as a small picture inside a larger one
- anything inserted
- a small piece of material used to strengthen a garment