Place (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent.
  2. space in general: time and place.
  3. the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything: Every item on the shelf had its place.
  4. any part or spot in a body or surface: a decayed place in a tree.
  5. a particular passage in a book or writing: to find the place where one left off reading.
  6. a space or seat for a person, as in a theater, train, etc.: Please save a place for me.
  7. position, situation, or circumstances: I would complain if I were in your place.
  8. a proper or appropriate location or position: A restaurant is not the place for an argument.
  9. a job, post, or office: persons in high places.
  10. a function or duty: It is not your place to offer criticism.
  11. proper sequence or relationship, as of ideas, details, etc.: My thoughts began to fall into place.
  12. high position or rank: aristocrats of power and place.
  13. a region or area: to travel to distant places.
  14. an open space, or square, as in a city or town.
  15. a short street, a court, etc.
  16. a portion of space used for habitation, as a city, town, or village: After decades of neglect and decay, those places are making a comeback thanks to urban renewal.
  17. a building, space, location, etc., set apart or used for a specific purpose: A nightclub is a place of entertainment.You are encouraged to dress modestly in places of worship.
  18. a part of a building: The kitchen is the sunniest place in the house.
  19. a residence, dwelling, or house: Please come and have dinner at my place.
  20. lieu; substitution (usually followed by of): Use yogurt in place of sour cream.
  21. a step or point in order of proceeding: in the first place.
  22. a fitting or promising opportunity: There's a place in this town for a man of his talents.
  23. a reasonable ground or occasion: This is no place for such an outburst.
  24. a mental or emotional state: I’m not in a good place right now.
  25. Arithmetic.
    • the position of a figure in a series, as in decimal notation.
    • the figures of the series.
  26. one of the three unities.
  27. Sports.
    • a position among the leading competitors, usually the first, second, or third at the finish line.
    • the position of the competitor who comes in second in a horse race, harness race, etc.
  28. a call summoning performers for the beginning of a performance or an act.
  29. room or space for entry or passage: to make place for the crowds.
verb (used with object), placed, plac·ing.
  1. to put in the proper position or order; arrange; dispose: Place the silverware on the table for dinner.
  2. to put or set in a particular place, position, situation, or relation.
  3. to put in a suitable place for some purpose: to place an advertisement in the newspaper.
  4. to put into particular or proper hands: to place some incriminating evidence with the district attorney.
  5. to give (an order or the like) to a supplier: She placed the order for the pizza an hour ago.
  6. to appoint (a person) to a post or office: The president placed him in the Department of Agriculture.
  7. to find a place, situation, etc., for (a person): The agency had no trouble placing him with a good firm.
  8. to determine or indicate the place or value of: to place health among the greatest gifts in life.
  9. to assign a certain position or rank to: The army placed him in the infantry.
  10. to succeed in attaining a position for in an athletic or other contest: to place players on the all-American team; to place students in the finals of the interscholastic chess tournament.
  11. to identify by connecting with the proper place, circumstances, etc.: to be unable to place a person; to place a face; to place an accent.
  12. to employ (the voice) for singing or speaking with consciousness of the bodily point of emphasis of resonance of each tone or register.
verb (used without object), placed, plac·ing.
  1. Sports.
    • to finish among the first three competitors in a race.
    • to finish second in a horse race, harness race, etc.
  2. to earn a specified standing with relation to others, as in an examination, competition, etc.: He placed fifth in a graduation class of 90.
Idioms
  1. give place to,
    • to give precedence or priority to: Any local ordinance must give place to federal law.
    • to be succeeded or replaced by: Travel by trains has given place to travel by airplanes.
  2. to succeed or advance in one's career: He'll never go places if he stays in his hometown.
  3. in place,
    • in the correct or usual position or order: Dinner is ready and everything is in place.
    • in the same spot, without advancing or retreating: Stand by your desk and jog in place for a few minutes of exercise.
    • in the place or building that one already occupies: Residents were asked to shelter in place during the storm—evacuation was deemed too risky.Ninety percent of older adults would prefer to age in place, in their own homes and communities.
  4. to recognize one's position or rank, especially if inferior, and behave or act accordingly: They treated their servants well but expected them always to know their place.
  5. out of place,
    • not in the correct or usual position or order: The library books are all out of place.
    • unsuitable to the circumstances or surroundings; inappropriate: He had always felt out of place in an academic environment. A green suit was out of place at the funeral.
  6. to lower someone's self-esteem; humble, especially an arrogant person: She put me in my place by reminding me who was boss.
  7. to happen; occur: The commencement exercises will take place outdoors unless it rains.
noun
  1. a particular point or part of space or of a surface, esp that occupied by a person or thing
  2. a geographical point, such as a town, city, etc
  3. a position or rank in a sequence or order
    • an open square lined with houses of a similar type in a city or town
    • (capital when part of a street name)
  4. space or room
  5. a house or living quarters
  6. a country house with grounds
  7. any building or area set aside for a specific purpose
  8. a passage in a book, play, film, etc
  9. proper or appropriate position or time
  10. right or original position
  11. suitable, appropriate, or customary surroundings (esp in the phrases out of place, in place)
  12. right, prerogative, or duty
  13. appointment, position, or job
  14. position, condition, or state
    • a space or seat, as at a dining table
    • (as modifier)
  15. the relative position of a digit in a number
  16. any of the best times in a race
  17. horse racing
    • the first, second, or third position at the finish
    • the first or usually the second position at the finish
    • (as modifier)
  18. one of the three unities
  19. an important position, rank, or role
  20. in disorder or disarray
  21. another place British parliamentary procedure
    • (in the House of Commons) the House of Lords
    • (in the House of Lords) the House of Commons
  22. to make room for or be superseded by someone
  23. go places informal
    • to travel
    • to become successful
  24. in place of
    • instead of; in lieu of
    • in exchange for
  25. to be aware of one's inferior position
  26. the highest or foremost position
  27. to humble someone who is arrogant, conceited, forward, etc
  28. to take up one's usual or specified position
  29. to be a substitute for
  30. to happen or occur
  31. the other place facetious
    • (at Oxford University) Cambridge University
    • (at Cambridge University) Oxford University
verb (mainly tr)
  1. to put or set in a particular or appropriate place
  2. to find or indicate the place of
  3. to identify or classify by linking with an appropriate context
  4. to regard or view as being
  5. to make (an order, a bet, etc)
  6. to find a home or job for (someone)
  7. to appoint to an office or position
  8. to put under the care (of)
  9. to direct or aim carefully
  10. to cause (a racehorse, greyhound, athlete, etc) to arrive in first, second, third, or sometimes fourth place
  11. (of a racehorse, greyhound, etc) to finish among the first three in a contest, esp in second position
  12. to invest (funds)
  13. to sing (a note) with accuracy of pitch
  14. to insert (an advertisement) in a newspaper, journal, etc
noun
  1. Francis. 1771–1854, British radical, who campaigned for the repeal (1824) of the Combination Acts, which forbade the forming of trade unions, and for parliamentary reform
Place (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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