set piece
noun
plural set pieces
1
a
: a composition (as in literature, art, or music) executed in a fixed or ideal form often with studied artistry and brilliant effect
b
: a scene, depiction, speech, or event that is obviously designed to have an imposing effect
2
: a realistic piece of stage scenery standing by itself
3
: a precisely planned and conducted military operation
an offensive set piece that caught the enemy off guard
4
sports
: a carefully planned sequence of movements performed by the members of a team (as in soccer)
A set piece can be used on either a direct or indirect type of [free] kick, providing one of the few times during the game that a team can execute something that it may have spent hours practicing.—
Doug Roberson
Doug Roberson
Examples of set piece in a Sentence
a movie with some lovely set pieces
She scored with a set piece.
Recent Examples on the Web
Every story mission has its big set pieces, specific battles, and decisions to be made that will impact the overall plot.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024
The final two minutes were filled with set pieces, substitutions and breakaway chances – with Manchester United actually looking the most likely to score.
—Ben Church, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
On Xbox, graphics occasionally render slowly in transitions from set pieces to live action; while mercifully rare, enemies can glitch between spaces with super speed.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Hong Kong martial arts cinema legend Sammo Hung brought jiangshi to the screen with 1980’s Encounters of the Spooky Kind, a silly kung fu horror-comedy that features a hilarious set piece as Hung comically evades a hopping corpse’s herky-jerky attacks.
—James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for set piece 
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Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024
The final two minutes were filled with set pieces, substitutions and breakaway chances – with Manchester United actually looking the most likely to score.
—Ben Church, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
On Xbox, graphics occasionally render slowly in transitions from set pieces to live action; while mercifully rare, enemies can glitch between spaces with super speed.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Hong Kong martial arts cinema legend Sammo Hung brought jiangshi to the screen with 1980’s Encounters of the Spooky Kind, a silly kung fu horror-comedy that features a hilarious set piece as Hung comically evades a hopping corpse’s herky-jerky attacks.
—James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for set piece
Dictionary Entries Near set piece
Cite this Entry
“Set piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20piece. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.
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