stel

Stel is a term with several uses across languages and disciplines. In Dutch, stel functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun it can mean a set or collection of items (een stel gereedschap) or a couple (een stel). As a verb, stemming from stellen, it means to place, set, present, or propose; common phrases include ik stel voor (I propose) and stel je voor (please introduce yourself). The imperative form stel appears in commands such as Stel de deur open.

Beyond Dutch, STEL is an acronym used in occupational health and safety to denote Short-Term Exposure Limit. A STEL sets the maximum concentration of a substance to which a worker can be exposed for a short period without adverse effects, typically in relation to a 15-minute exposure. It is used alongside other exposure measures like the Time-Weighted Average (TWA). The exact value and applicability are substance-specific and defined by regulatory bodies.

Stel also appears as a surname in Dutch- and Afrikaans-speaking regions and can function as a given name in other contexts, with usage dependent on language and culture.

In English-language archaeology and art history, the related term stele (also stela) refers to an upright stone slab bearing inscriptions or reliefs. While spelled similarly, stele is etymologically distinct from the Dutch verb and acronym forms described above. See also stele for related terminology in inscriptions and monuments.