sentar

v.

1 to seat, to sit.

Ellos sentaron al chico They seated the boy.

2 to suit.

no le sienta bien it doesn't suit her

3 to establish.

Ellos sentaron las bases They established the basis.

* * *

sentar

Conjugation model [ACERTAR], like {{link=acertar}}acertar

► verbo transitivo

1 (en silla etc) to sit, seat

2 figurado (establecer) to establish

3 figurado (alisar) to press

► verbo intransitivo

1 (color, ropa, etc) to suit

■ esta corbata no te sienta this tie doesn't suit you

2 (comida etc) to do; (comentario etc) to take

► verbo pronominal sentarse

1 (en silla etc) to sit, sit down

2 (líquido) to settle

3 (tiempo) to settle, settle down

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

sentar bien (quedar bien) to suit 2 (ser reconfortante) to do good 3 (gustar) to please, like 4 (tomar bien) to take well

■ una sopita te sentará bien some soup will do you good

■ un dinero extra siempra sienta bien a little extra money always comes in handy

sentar cabeza figurado to settle down

sentar como un tiro familiar (ropa etc) to suit 2 (noticia etc) to come as a blow, come as a bombshell

■ la decisión le sentó como un tiro the decision came as a bombshell

sentar las bases de algo figurado to lay the foundations of something

sentar mal (quedar mal) not to suit 2 (no gustar) not to like, not appreciate 3 (tomar a mal) to take badly 4 (comida, bebida) to disagree with

■ aquel comentario le sentó mal he took that remark badly

■ aquellos mariscos le sentaron mal the seafood disagreed with him

sentar un precedente figurado to set a precedent

* * *

verb

1) to sit, seat

2) set, establish

•

- sentar bien

- sentarse

* * *

1. VT

1) [+ persona] to sit, seat

2) (=colocar) [+ objeto] to place, place firmly

sentar las costuras — to press the seams

sentar el último ladrillo — to tap the last brick into place

sentar las bases de algo — to lay the foundations for sth

3) (=establecer) [+ base, principio] to establish; [+ precedente] to set

4)

sentar una suma en la cuenta de algn — (Com) to put a sum down to sb's account

5) And, Caribe [+ persona] to crush, squash

6) And [+ caballo] to rein in sharply, pull up sharply

2. VI

1) [en el aspecto] to suit

ese peinado le sienta horriblemente — that hairstyle doesn't suit her at all, that hairstyle looks awful on her

2)

sentar bien/mal a algn — [comida] to agree/disagree with sb

no me sientan bien las gambas — prawns disagree with me

unas vacaciones le sentarían bien — he could do with a holiday

3) (=agradar)

sentar bien/mal — to go down well/badly

le ha sentado mal que lo hayas hecho tú — he didn't like your doing it

sentar como un tiro —

a mí me sienta como un tiro — * it suits me like a hole in the head *

3.

See:

sentarse

* * *

1.

verbo intransitivo (+ me/te/le etc)

a) ropa/color (+ compl)

ese vestido le sienta de maravilla — that dress really suits her

b) comida/bebida/clima (+ compl)

el café/este clima no le sienta bien — coffee/this climate doesn't agree with her

esta sopita te sentará bien — this soup will make you feel better

me sentó bien el descanso — the rest did me a lot of good

c) actitud/comentario (+ compl)

me sentó mal que no me invitaran — I was rather put out that they didn't ask me (colloq)

2.

sentar vt

1) <niño/muñeca> to sit; <invitado> to seat, sit

2) (establecer) to establish

sentar jurisprudencia — to set o establish a legal precedent

la firma del acuerdo sentó las bases para una mayor colaboración — the signing of the agreement laid the foundations for greater cooperation

3.

sentarse v pron to sit

sentarse a la mesa — to sit at (the) table, sit down to eat

no había donde sentarse — there was nowhere to sit

siéntese, por favor — please sit down o take a seat, do sit down o take a seat

siéntate bien or derechita — sit up (straight)

el bebé ya se sienta solo — the baby is sitting up on his own now

* * *

= lay down.

Ex. He was the son of a bricklayer who laid down as early as 1859 that 'the assistance of readers in their researches' is one of the duties that 'have daily to be provided for' in ordinary public libraries.

----

* echar una cana al aire antes de sentar la cabeza = sow + Posesivo + wild oats.

* estando sentado = from a seated position.

* que sienta precedente = landmark.

* sentar base = make + things happen.

* sentar bien a Alguien = look + good on + Nombre.

* sentar la cabeza = settle down.

* sentar las bases = lay + foundation, set + the scene, set + the wheels in motion, set + the tone, set + the framework, set + the pattern, provide + the basis, lay + the basis for, provide + the material for.

* sentar las bases de Algo = lay + the groundwork for.

* sentar precedente = provide + precedent for, set + precedent.

* sentarse = sit, sit down, adopt + a sitting position, seat.

* sentarse de brazos cruzados = sit + idle.

* sentarse (en) = take + a seat (on).

* sentarse leyendo = sit over.

* sentarse sin hacer nada = sit + idle.

* sentarse sin moverse = sit + still.

* zona para sentarse = seating area.

* * *

1.

verbo intransitivo (+ me/te/le etc)

a) ropa/color (+ compl)

ese vestido le sienta de maravilla — that dress really suits her

b) comida/bebida/clima (+ compl)

el café/este clima no le sienta bien — coffee/this climate doesn't agree with her

esta sopita te sentará bien — this soup will make you feel better

me sentó bien el descanso — the rest did me a lot of good

c) actitud/comentario (+ compl)

me sentó mal que no me invitaran — I was rather put out that they didn't ask me (colloq)

2.

sentar vt

1) <niño/muñeca> to sit; <invitado> to seat, sit

2) (establecer) to establish

sentar jurisprudencia — to set o establish a legal precedent

la firma del acuerdo sentó las bases para una mayor colaboración — the signing of the agreement laid the foundations for greater cooperation

3.

sentarse v pron to sit

sentarse a la mesa — to sit at (the) table, sit down to eat

no había donde sentarse — there was nowhere to sit

siéntese, por favor — please sit down o take a seat, do sit down o take a seat

siéntate bien or derechita — sit up (straight)

el bebé ya se sienta solo — the baby is sitting up on his own now

* * *

= lay down.

Ex: He was the son of a bricklayer who laid down as early as 1859 that 'the assistance of readers in their researches' is one of the duties that 'have daily to be provided for' in ordinary public libraries.

* echar una cana al aire antes de sentar la cabeza = sow + Posesivo + wild oats.

* estando sentado = from a seated position.

* que sienta precedente = landmark.

* sentar base = make + things happen.

* sentar bien a Alguien = look + good on + Nombre.

* sentar la cabeza = settle down.

* sentar las bases = lay + foundation, set + the scene, set + the wheels in motion, set + the tone, set + the framework, set + the pattern, provide + the basis, lay + the basis for, provide + the material for.

* sentar las bases de Algo = lay + the groundwork for.

* sentar precedente = provide + precedent for, set + precedent.

* sentarse = sit, sit down, adopt + a sitting position, seat.

* sentarse de brazos cruzados = sit + idle.

* sentarse (en) = take + a seat (on).

* sentarse leyendo = sit over.

* sentarse sin hacer nada = sit + idle.

* sentarse sin moverse = sit + still.

* zona para sentarse = seating area.

* * *

sentar [A5 ]

vi

(+ me/te/le etc)

1

«ropa/color» (+ compl): ese vestido le sienta de maravilla she looks marvelous in that dress, that dress really suits her

ese color te sienta muy bien a la cara that color really goes with o suits your complexion

2

«comida/bebida/clima» (+ compl): el café/este clima no le sienta bien coffee/this climate doesn't agree with her

esta sopita te sentará bien this soup will make you feel better, you'll feel better with some soup inside you (colloq)

me sentó bien el descanso the rest did me a lot o (colloq) a power of good

3

«actitud/comentario» (+ compl): me sentó mal que no me invitaran I was put out that they didn't ask me (colloq)

le va a sentar bien que se lo digas he'll be pleased if you tell him

4 (sin compl) to suit

ese color no les sienta a los pelirrojos that color doesn't suit redheads

■ sentar

vt

A ‹niño/muñeca› to sit; ‹invitado› to seat, sit

lo sentaron a la cabecera de la mesa they seated o sat him at the head of the table

B (establecer) to establish

el dictamen sienta jurisprudencia this ruling sets o establishes a legal precedent

con la firma del acuerdo sentaron las bases para una mayor colaboración the signing of the agreement paved the way o laid the foundations for greater cooperation

■ sentarse

v pron

to sit

sentarse a la mesa to sit at (the) table, sit down to eat

no te sientes en la mesa don't sit on the table

no había donde sentarse there was nowhere to sit

siéntese, por favor please sit down o take a seat, do sit down o take a seat

nos hizo sentar afuera he made us sit outside

me sentaba con ella en la clase I used to sit next to her in class

siéntate bien/derechita sit up, sit up straight

el bebé ya se sienta solo the baby is sitting up on his own now

* * *

 

sentar (conjugate sentar) verbo intransitivo (+ me/te/le etc)

a) [ropa/color] (+ compl):

◊ ese vestido le sienta de maravilla that dress really suits her

b) [comida/bebida/clima] (+ compl):

◊ el café no le sienta bien coffee doesn't agree with her;

me sentó bien el descanso the rest did me a lot of good

c) [actitud/comentario] (+ compl):

◊ me sentó mal que no me invitaran I was rather put out that they didn't ask me (colloq)

verbo transitivo
1 ‹niño/muñeca› to sit;
‹invitado› to seat, sit
2 (establecer) to establish
sentarse verbo pronominal
to sit;

◊ sentarse a la mesa to sit at (the) table;

siéntese, por favor please (do) sit down
sentar
I verbo transitivo
1 (en una silla) to sit: nos sentaron en la mesa del fondo, we sat at the back table
2 (establecer) sentar las bases, to lay the foundations
sentar precedente, to establish a precedent
II verbo intransitivo 1 sentar bien/mal algo a alguien, (un peinado, vestido) to suit sb/not to suit sb
(una comida, bebida, clima) to agree/disagree with sb: un baño caliente te sentará bien, a hot bath will do you good
2 (un comentario, una broma) ¿cómo le sentó la noticia?, how did he take the news?
le sentó fatal, he took it badly
me sienta muy mal que haga esos comentarios, it really upsets me that he makes those remarks
Cuando se habla de la moda (ropa o color), la traducción más común es to suit. Pero si te refieres únicamente a la talla, es mejor que uses el verbo to fit: Este jersey no te sienta bien. This jersey doesn't suit you (cuando el estilo o el color no son los adecuados). This jersey doesn't fit you (cuando estás hablando de la talla).

'sentar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
cabeza
- estar
- ir
- guante
- incorporar
- indigestarse
- precedente
- Tiro
- anillo
- base
- caer
- favorecer
- hacer
- quedar
- sienta
English:
disagree
- fit
- flatter
- glove
- lay down
- seat
- settle down
- sit
- suit
- anywhere
- precedent
- quieten
- set
- settle
- usher

* * *

sentar

♦ vt

1. [en asiento] to sit;

te sentaremos al lado de mi madre we'll sit you next to my mother

2. [establecer] to establish;

sentar las bases para to lay the foundations of;

sus estudios sentaron las bases de la física moderna his research laid the foundations of modern physics;

sentar precedente to set a precedent

♦ vi

1. [ropa, color] to suit;

no le sienta bien it doesn't suit her;

ese peinado te sienta genial that hairstyle suits you wonderfully

2. [comida]

sentar bien/mal a alguien to agree/disagree with sb;

algunos consideran que una copita de vino sienta bien some people think a glass of wine is good for you;

el café no me sienta bien coffee disagrees with me

3. [vacaciones, medicamento]

sentar bien a alguien to do sb good;

te sentaría bien tomar el aire it would do you good to get a breath of fresh air

4. [comentario, consejo]

le sentó bien she appreciated it;

le sentó mal it upset her;

le sentó mal que no la consultáramos she was upset that we hadn't consulted her

♦ See also the pronominal verb sentarse

* * *

sentar

I v/t fig

establish, create;

sentar las bases lay the foundations, pave the way

II v/i

:

sentar bien/mal de propuesta go down well/badly;

sentar bien a alguien de comida agree with s.o.;

le sienta bien esa chaqueta that jacket suits her, she looks good in that jacket

* * *

sentar {55} vt

1) : to seat, to sit

2) : to establish, to set

sentar vi

1) : to suit

ese color te sienta: that color suits you

2) : to agree with (of food or drink)

las cebollas no me sientan: onions don't agree with me

3) : to please

le sentó mal el paseo: she didn't enjoy the trip

♦ See also the reflexive verb sentarse

* * *

sentar vb

1. (poner sentado) to sit [pt. & pp. sat]

sienta a la niña en el cochecito sit the baby in the pram

2. (ropa) to suit

esa falda no te sienta bien that skirt doesn't suit you

3. (comida) to agree

a mí me sienta mal la comida picante spicy food doesn't agree with me

4. (hacer efecto) to do

un poco de aire fresco te sentará bien a bit of fresh air will do you good

le sentó fatal que no la llamaras she was really upset that you didn't phone her