place

Pronunciation: /pleɪs/

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Definition of place

noun

1a particular position, point, or area in space; a location:I can’t be in two places at once the monastery was a peaceful place that street was no place for a lady figurativehe would always have a special place in her heart
a particular area on a larger surface:he lashed out and cut the policeman’s hand in three places
a building or area used for a specified purpose or activity:the town has many excellent eating places a place of worship
informal a person’s home:what about dinner at my place?
a point in a book or other text reached by a reader at a particular time:I must have lost my place in the script

2a portion of space designated or available for or being used by someone:they hurried to their places at the table Jackie had saved her a place
a vacancy or available position:he was offered a place at Liverpool University
the regular or proper position of something:she put the book back in its place
a person’s rank or status:occupation structures a person’s place in society
[usually with negative] a right or privilege resulting from someone’s role or position:I’m sure she has a story to tell, but it’s not my place to ask
the role played by or importance attached to someone or something in a particular context:the place of computers in improving office efficiency

3a position in a sequence or series, typically one ordered on the basis of merit:his score left him in ninth place
British any of the first three or sometimes four positions in a race (used especially of the second, third, or fourth positions).
North American the second position, especially in a horse race.
the degree of priority given to something:accurate reportage takes second place to lurid detail
the position of a figure in a series indicated in decimal or similar notation, especially one after the decimal point:calculate the ratios to one decimal place

4 [in place names] a square or short street:the lecture theatre is in New Burlington Place
a country house with its grounds.

verb

[with object]

1 [with object and adverbial] put in a particular position:a newspaper had been placed beside my plate
cause to be in a particular situation:enemy officers were placed under arrest you are not placing yourself under any obligation
allocate or assign (an abstract quality) to something:they place a great deal of emphasis on positive thought
(be placed) have a specified degree of advantage or convenience as a result of one’s position or circumstances: [with infinitive]:the company is well placed to seize the opportunity

2find a home or employment for:the children were placed with foster-parents
dispose of (something, especially shares) by selling to a customer: the shares were placed last November
arrange for the recognition and implementation of (an order, bet, etc.):they placed a contract for three boats
order or obtain a connection for (a telephone call) through an operator: she placed a call to her husband to break the news

3 [with object and adverbial] identify or classify as being of a specified type or as holding a specified position in a sequence or hierarchy:a survey placed the company 13th for achievement
[with object, usually with negative] be able to remember or identify (someone or something):she eventually said she couldn’t place him
(be placed) British achieve a specified position in a race:he was placed eleventh in the long individual race
[no object] be among the first three or four in a race (or the first three in the US): he won three times and placed three times (be placed)the horse, Bahuddin, was not placed at Lingfield

4 Rugby & American Football score (a goal) by a place kick.

Phrases

give place to: be succeeded or replaced by: the farmlands gave place to bare, scree-covered slopes anarchy eventually gave place to patrician capitalism
go places: travel.; be increasingly successful:a pop star who’s definitely going places
in place
in place of: instead of: eat raisins in place of junk food desserts
keep someone in his (or her) place: keep someone from becoming presumptuous.
out of place: not in the proper position; disarranged: not a hair was out of place in her painstakingly crimped coiffure; in a setting where one is or feels inappropriate or incongruous: the glamorous woman seemed radically out of place in the launderette
a place in the sun: a position of favour or advantage.
put oneself in another's place: consider a situation from another’s point of view: put yourself in her place—she’s got a lot to cope with
put someone in his (or her) place: deflate or humiliate someone regarded as being presumptuous.
take place: occur:people laid flowers at the spot where the crash took place
take one's place: take up one’s usual or recognized position.
take the place of: replace.

Derivatives

placeless

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French, from an alteration of Latin platea 'open space', from Greek plateia (hodos) 'broad (way)'

Grammar

Adverbials and adverbial clauses can provide information about where something happened.AdverbialsAdverbials of place can be individual words or prepositional phrases. In the examples that follow, the adverbials are printed in bold type.We should not have expected to see them there. A quarter of them live in New York City. Adverbial clausesThese are usually introduced by the conjunctions:where wherever everywhere For example:It just seems odd to do it where no one is likely to see it. Wherever he went things seemed different. Everywhere one looked there were unaccustomed trophies on display.

place in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of place in the US English dictionary

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Other

place

noun

verb

Phrases

give place to

go places

in place

in place of

keep someone in his (or her) place

out of place

a place in the sun

put oneself in another's place

put someone in his (or her) place

take place

take one's place

take the place of

Derivatives

placeless

Origin:

Grammar

place in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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