The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DETONATE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
D
E
T
O
N
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result DETONATE
- Daughter facing school had to explode
- Explode one day outside public school
- Trigger’s memo about opening time
- Go off romantic meeting outside school
- Set off from Berkshire college in time
- Expected Eton at eleven. About to set off
- See walls in school explode
- Set off for school in time
- Set off to see around college
- Go off fruit school imported
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "set off" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case set off = detonate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DETONATE mean?
DETONATE verb- To explode; to blow up. Specifically, to combust supersonically via shock compression.
- To cause to explode.