place Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a point located with respect to surface features of some region
    spot; topographic point.
    • this is a nice place for a picnic
    • a bright spot on a planet
  2. noun any area set aside for a particular purpose
    property.
    • who owns this place?
    • the president was concerned about the property across from the White House
  3. noun an abstract mental location
    • he has a special place in my thoughts
    • a place in my heart
    • a political system with no place for the less prominent groups
  4. noun a general vicinity
    • He comes from a place near Chicago
  5. noun the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
    position; stead; lieu.
    • can you go in my stead?
    • took his place
    • in lieu of
  6. noun a particular situation
    shoes.
    • If you were in my place what would you do?
  7. noun where you live at a particular time
    home.
    • deliver the package to my home
    • he doesn't have a home to go to
    • your place or mine?
  8. noun a job in an organization
    berth; office; billet; spot; situation; position; post.
    • he occupied a post in the treasury
  9. noun the particular portion of space occupied by something
    position.
    • he put the lamp back in its place
  10. noun proper or designated social situation
    station.
    • he overstepped his place
    • the responsibilities of a man in his station
    • married above her station
  11. noun a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
    seat.
    • he booked their seats in advance
    • he sat in someone else's place
  12. noun the passage that is being read
    • he lost his place on the page
  13. noun proper or appropriate position or location
    • a woman's place is no longer in the kitchen
  14. noun a public square with room for pedestrians
    plaza; piazza.
    • they met at Elm Plaza
    • Grosvenor Place
  15. noun an item on a list or in a sequence
    position.
    • in the second place
    • moved from third to fifth position
  16. noun a blank area
    blank space; space.
    • write your name in the space provided
  17. verb put into a certain place or abstract location
    set; pose; lay; put; position.
    • Put your things here
    • Set the tray down
    • Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
    • Place emphasis on a certain point
  18. verb place somebody in a particular situation or location
    • he was placed on probation
  19. verb assign a rank or rating to
    grade; range; rank; rate; order.
    • how would you rank these students?
    • The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide
  20. verb assign a location to
    locate; site.
    • The company located some of their agents in Los Angeles
  21. verb to arrange for
    • place a phone call
    • place a bet
  22. verb take a place in a competition; often followed by an ordinal
    come in; come out.
    • Jerry came in third in the Marathon
  23. verb intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
    aim; point; target; direct.
    • He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face
    • criticism directed at her superior
    • direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself
  24. verb recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something
    identify.
    • She identified the man on the 'wanted' poster
  25. verb assign to (a job or a home)
  26. verb locate
    localize; localise; set.
    • The film is set in Africa
  27. verb estimate
    put; set.
    • We put the time of arrival at 8 P.M.
  28. verb identify the location or place of
    localize; localise.
    • We localized the source of the infection
  29. verb make an investment
    put; invest; commit.
    • Put money into bonds
  30. verb assign to a station
    post; station; send.
  31. verb finish second or better in a horse or dog race
    • he bet $2 on number six to place
  32. verb sing a note with the correct pitch

WordNet

Place noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. platea a street, an area, a courtyard, from Gr. platei^a a street, properly fem. of platy`s, flat, broad; akin to Skr. p&rsdot;thu, Lith. platus. Cf. Flawn, Piazza, Plate, Plaza.
Definitions
  1. Any portion of space regarded as measured off or distinct from all other space, or appropriated to some definite object or use; position; ground; site; spot; rarely, unbounded space.
    Here is the place appointed. Shak.
    What place can be for us Within heaven's bound? Milton.
    The word place has sometimes a more confused sense, and stands for that space which any body takes up; and so the universe is a place. Locke.
  2. A broad way in a city; an open space; an area; a court or short part of a street open only at one end. "Hangman boys in the market place." Shak.
  3. A position which is occupied and held; a dwelling; a mansion; a village, town, or city; a fortified town or post; a stronghold; a region or country.
    Are you native of this place? Shak.
  4. Rank; degree; grade; order of priority, advancement, dignity, or importance; especially, social rank or position; condition; also, official station; occupation; calling. "The enervating magic of place." Hawthorne.
    Men in great place are thrice servants. Bacon.
    I know my place as I would they should do theirs. Shak.
  5. Vacated or relinquished space; room; stead (the departure or removal of another being or thing being implied). "In place of Lord Bassanio." Shak.
  6. A definite position or passage of a document.
    The place of the scripture which he read was this. Acts viii. 32.
  7. Ordinal relation; position in the order of proceeding; as, he said in the first place.
  8. Reception; effect; -- implying the making room for.
    My word hath no place in you. John viii. 37.
  9. (Astron.) Position in the heavens, as of a heavenly body; -- usually defined by its right ascension and declination, or by its latitude and longitude. Syn. -- Situation; seat; abode; position; locality; location; site; spot; office; employment; charge; function; trust; ground; room; stead.
Place transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. placer. See Place, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Placed ; present participle & verbal noun Placing
Definitions
  1. To assign a place to; to put in a particular spot or place, or in a certain relative position; to direct to a particular place; to fix; to settle; to locate; as, to place a book on a shelf; to place balls in tennis.
    Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown. Shak.
  2. To put or set in a particular rank, office, or position; to surround with particular circumstances or relations in life; to appoint to certain station or condition of life; as, in whatever sphere one is placed.
    Place such over them to be rulers. Ex. xviii. 21.
  3. To put out at interest; to invest; to loan; as, to place money in a bank.
  4. To set; to fix; to repose; as, to place confidence in a friend. "My resolution 's placed." Shak.
  5. To attribute; to ascribe; to set down.
    Place it for her chief virtue. Shak.
    Syn. -- See Put.

Webster 1913