a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent.
space in general: time and place.
the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything: Every item on the shelf had its place.
any part or spot in a body or surface: a decayed place in a tree.
a particular passage in a book or writing: to find the place where one left off reading.
a space or seat for a person, as in a theater, train, etc.: Please save a place for me.
position, situation, or circumstances: I would complain if I were in your place.
a proper or appropriate location or position: A restaurant is not the place for an argument.
a job, post, or office: persons in high places.
a function or duty: It is not your place to offer criticism.
proper sequence or relationship, as of ideas, details, etc.: My thoughts began to fall into place.
high position or rank: aristocrats of power and place.
a region or area: to travel to distant places.
an open space, or square, as in a city or town.
a short street, a court, etc.
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.
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.
a part of a building: The kitchen is the sunniest place in the house.
a residence, dwelling, or house: Please come and have dinner at my place.
lieu; substitution (usually followed by of): Use yogurt in place of sour cream.
a step or point in order of proceeding: in the first place.
a fitting or promising opportunity: There's a place in this town for a man of his talents.
a reasonable ground or occasion: This is no place for such an outburst.
a mental or emotional state: I’m not in a good place right now.
Arithmetic.
the position of a figure in a series, as in decimal notation.
Usually places.the figures of the series.
Drama. one of the three unities.Compare unity (def. 8).
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.Compare show (def. 27), win1 (def. 17).
places,Theater. a call summoning performers for the beginning of a performance or an act.
room or space for entry or passage: to make place for the crowds.
verb (used with object),placed,plac·ing.
to put in the proper position or order; arrange; dispose: Place the silverware on the table for dinner.
to put or set in a particular place, position, situation, or relation.
to put in a suitable place for some purpose: to place an advertisement in the newspaper.
to put into particular or proper hands: to place some incriminating evidence with the district attorney.
to give (an order or the like) to a supplier: She placed the order for the pizza an hour ago.
to appoint (a person) to a post or office: The president placed him in the Department of Agriculture.
to find a place, situation, etc., for (a person): The agency had no trouble placing him with a good firm.
to determine or indicate the place or value of: to place health among the greatest gifts in life.
to assign a certain position or rank to: The army placed him in the infantry.
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.
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.
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.
Sports.
to finish among the first three competitors in a race.
to finish second in a horse race, harness race, etc.
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 for place
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.
go places, Informal. to succeed or advance in one's career: He'll never go places if he stays in his hometown.
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.
know / keep one's place, 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.
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.
put someone in his / her place, to lower someone's self-esteem; humble, especially an arrogant person: She put me in my place by reminding me who was boss.
take place, to happen; occur: The commencement exercises will take place outdoors unless it rains.
Origin of place
First recorded before 950; Middle English noun plaas, plas, a conflation of Old English plæce, plætse and Middle French place, plasse “space, available space,” from Medieval Latin placea, from Vulgar Latin plattea, from Latin platea, platēa “wide street, courtyard, area,” from Greek plateîa (hodós) “wide (street),” noun use of feminine of platýs “wide, broad, level”; verb derivative of the noun; see flat1, plate1
SYNONYMS FOR place
1 location, locale, locality, site.
9 rank, employment.
10 charge, responsibility.
13 section, sector.
30 situate, station.
32 locate, set, deposit, lay, seat.
35 hire.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR place ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for place
9. See position. 30. See put.
OTHER WORDS FROM place
place·a·ble,adjectiveplace·less,adjectiveplace·less·ly,adverbpre·place,verb (used with object),pre·placed,pre·plac·ing.
un·placed,adjectivewell-placed,adjective
Words nearby place
placard, placas, placate, placative, placatory, place, placebo, placebo effect, place card, placeholder, place in the sun
“This is the only place in the souk you can buy safety pins,” he said.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He hasn't bothered to visit Iguala, the place where the students were abducted and killed.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A place that has multiplied success for generation after generation of its children.
Mario Cuomo, Always Moving Us Toward the Light|Mike Barnicle|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talents.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After my first trip to his place in Tucson we called one another on the telephone.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I have never been in any place in which the relations with Moslems have been so easy and friendly.
Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan, Volume II (of 2)|Isabella L. Bird
If too great shrinkage occurs, the place may be blown out gently after reheating.
Laboratory Manual of Glass-Blowing|Francis C. Frary
We ought to take quite a place in the county, and challenge other schools for matches.
For the School Colours|Angela Brazil
No two authorities agree as to the place of these alleged magnetic mountains.
On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth|William Gilbert of Colchester
She took her place at the keyhole, and had an excuse ready for the old woman, if she should come out suddenly.
Jan of the Windmill|Juliana Horatia Ewing
British Dictionary definitions for place (1 of 2)
place
/ (pleɪs) /
noun
a particular point or part of space or of a surface, esp that occupied by a person or thing
a geographical point, such as a town, city, etc
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)Grosvenor Place
space or room
a house or living quarters
a country house with grounds
any building or area set aside for a specific purpose
a passage in a book, play, film, etcto lose one's place
proper or appropriate position or timehe still thinks a woman's place is in the home
right or original positionput it back in its place
suitable, appropriate, or customary surroundings (esp in the phrases out of place, in place)
right, prerogative, or dutyit is your place to give a speech
appointment, position, or joba place at college
position, condition, or stateif I were in your place
a space or seat, as at a dining table
(as modifier)place mat
mathsthe relative position of a digit in a numberSee also decimal place
any of the best times in a race
horse racing
Britishthe first, second, or third position at the finish
US and Canadianthe first or usually the second position at the finish
(as modifier)a place bet
theatreone of the three unitiesSee unity (def. 8)
archaican important position, rank, or role
all over the placein disorder or disarray
another placeBritishparliamentary procedure
(in the House of Commons) the House of Lords
(in the House of Lords) the House of Commons
give place to someoneto make room for or be superseded by someone
go placesinformal
to travel
to become successful
in place of
instead of; in lieu ofgo in place of my sister
in exchange forhe gave her it in place of her ring
know one's placeto be aware of one's inferior position
pride of placethe highest or foremost position
put someone in his placeto humble someone who is arrogant, conceited, forward, etc
take one's placeto take up one's usual or specified position
take the place ofto be a substitute for
take placeto happen or occur
the other placefacetious
(at Oxford University) Cambridge University
(at Cambridge University) Oxford University
verb(mainly tr)
to put or set in a particular or appropriate place
to find or indicate the place of
to identify or classify by linking with an appropriate contextto place a face
to regard or view as beingto place prosperity above sincerity
to make (an order, a bet, etc)
to find a home or job for (someone)
to appoint to an office or position
(often foll by with)to put under the care (of)
to direct or aim carefully
(passive)Britishto cause (a racehorse, greyhound, athlete, etc) to arrive in first, second, third, or sometimes fourth place
(intr)US and Canadian(of a racehorse, greyhound, etc) to finish among the first three in a contest, esp in second position
to invest (funds)
to sing (a note) with accuracy of pitch
to insert (an advertisement) in a newspaper, journal, etc
Word Origin for place
C13: via Old French from Latin platēa courtyard, from Greek plateia, from platus broad; compare French plat flat
British Dictionary definitions for place (2 of 2)
Place
/ (pleɪs) /
noun
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