释义 |
po·si·tion I. \pəˈzishən, pōˈ-\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle French, from Latin position-, positio, from positus (past participle of ponere to put, place, from — assumed — Old Latin posinere, from po- away + sinere to lay, let, leave) + -ion-, -io -ion; akin to Latin post after — more at post-, site 1. : an act of placing or arranging: as a. : an act of laying down or stating a proposition or thesis : affirmation b. : an arranging in order (as of military forces or chess pieces) 2. a. : a proposition or thesis laid down : assertion, statement < the proper response to the position that atomic secrets merit unique protection is not a denial but a series of questions — J.G.Palfrey > b. : the ground or point of view adopted with reference to a particular subject : mental attitude : way of thinking about or viewing something < took a radical position on the zoning issue > < took the position that the law must be enforced at all costs > c. : a market commitment (as in securities or commodities) < had heavy position in steels > also : the inventory of a market trader (as a security dealer) 3. : the point or area in space actually occupied by a physical object or into which it is placed: as a. : proper or natural location in relation to other items < the position of the heart > < put the lever in operating position > : stand < took their position at the end of the line > b. : an area or locality occupied by combat units especially in a defensive operation : a location (as of a battery) from which weapons are fired c. : geographical location < radioed the control tower for his position > 4. : arrangement or ordering of parts or aspects in relation to one another or to an external source of orientation: as a. (1) : bodily posture < crouched in a cramped position > < proper position is of the utmost importance in showing livestock > (2) : any of the postures of the feet and arms on which all steps and movements of classical ballet are based < the five positions of the feet > (3) : an arrangement of the parts of the body considered particularly desirable for some medical or surgical procedure < knee-chest position > < obstetrical position > b. : any of the arrangements of surfaces with the vertical in which the movement of a timepiece is adjusted to run c. (1) : the disposition of the notes or tones of a chord with reference to the lowest voice part, the uppermost voice part, or their nearness to each other in pitch < open or close position > (2) : one of the points on the fingerboard of a stringed instrument where the strings are stopped by the fingers to produce various pitches (3) : one of the seven definite degrees of extension of the trombone slide 5. : relative place, situation, or standing < man's position in nature > < the economic position of the city > as a. : social or official rank or status < a humble man satisfied with his position > especially : elevated standing < a man of position > b. (1) : office, employment, vocation < took a position in the department of state > — often used to distinguish a superior or intellectual occupation from a job of labor (2) : the group of tasks and responsibilities making up the duties of an employee < the position can best be filled by a college-trained man > < this position involves both bookkeeping and typing > c. : a spot, situation, or condition that conveys some advantage (as against another) < maneuvering for position > 6. : the condition in Greek or Latin prosody of having a short vowel followed by two consonants or a double consonant (as x or z) making its syllable long < in vŏlvŭnt the syllables are long by position > II. verb (positioned ; positioned ; positioning \-sh(ə)niŋ\ ; positions) transitive verb : to put in a or the proper position : place, situate < positioned themselves to act at once > intransitive verb : to assume or maintain a position |