Phrasal Verb - 'set off'

[sdluk]

What does the phrase 'set off' means? Can you create a sentence with it?


For example - "I've heard a news that some terrorist set off a bomb in the city center. Is it true?"

[TheStephen]

It has three main uses:

1. To denote a violent reaction of some sort, e.g. setting off a bomb, setting off a chemical reaction, setting someone off (making someone angry).

2. To show something as different, e.g. "His scar made set him off (or apart) from the rest of the group."

3. To say a journey has begun, e.g. "We've set off to Italy."

[JCloninger]

In this context, "set off" means "to trigger (a reaction)", in this case, to trigger the bomb to explode.