Definition

1. Noun:

   • A particular point or area in space; a location: "place" refers to a specific spot, area, or geographical location.
   • A building or area used for a specific purpose: "place" can denote a house, home, or a site designated for a particular activity.
   • A position in a sequence or hierarchy: "place" indicates a rank, order, or social position.
   • A proper or suitable location or moment: "place" refers to the correct or appropriate spot for something or someone.
   • A passage in a text: "place" can mean the point in a book or speech where one has stopped reading or is referring to.
   • A seat or space reserved for sitting: "place" denotes a specific spot, such as in a theater or vehicle.
   • A job or position of employment: "place" can refer to a situation or post in an organization.

2. Verb:

   • To put or set in a particular position or location: The primary meaning is to position something somewhere.
   • To identify or remember the context of someone or something: "place" means to recognize or recall in relation to a specific context.
   • To assign a rank or position: "place" means to rank or order in a competition or hierarchy.
   • To make an investment or order: "place" can mean to put money into something or to make a request, such as an order.
   • To find a job or home for someone: "place" means to arrange for someone to have a position or residence.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • This is a nice place for a picnic. (This location is suitable for a picnic.)
  • He just bought a new place in the city. (He just purchased a new home in the city.)
  • She finished in second place in the race. (She achieved the rank of second in the competition.)
  • Everything has its place in this drawer. (Everything has its correct location in this drawer.)
  • I lost my place in the book. (I forgot the page or passage where I stopped reading.)

• Verb:

  • Please place the book on the table. (Please put the book on the table.)
  • I know I've met him, but I can't place him. (I recognize him but cannot remember the context of our meeting.)
  • The judges placed her first in the competition. (The judges ranked her as number one.)
  • He placed a bet on the horse. (He made a wager on the horse.)
  • The agency placed him in a good job. (The agency found a good job for him.)

Advanced Usage

• "to take place": to happen, to occur.

  • The meeting will take place at noon. (The meeting will happen at noon.)

• "in place of": instead of, as a substitute for.

  • She attended the meeting in place of her manager. (She went to the meeting instead of her manager.)

• "out of place": not suitable for the situation; inappropriate.

  • His casual remark felt out of place at the formal dinner. (His informal comment seemed inappropriate.)

• "in the first place": originally; to begin with (used to introduce a primary reason or point).

  • In the first place, I never agreed to this plan. (To begin with, I never consented to this.)

Variants and Related Words

• Displace (verb): to take over the place, position, or role of; to force someone to leave their home.
  • The new technology could displace many workers.
• Replace (verb): to take the place of; to put something new in the position of something old.
  • Please replace the book on the shelf.
• Placement (noun): the action of placing or the state of being placed; a job placement.
  • The placement of the furniture was perfect.
• Plaza (noun): a public square, marketplace, or similar open space in a town or city. (Note: This is a specific type of place, often used in proper names like "Grosvenor Place").

Synonyms

• Noun: Location, spot, site, position, rank, home, residence.
• Verb: Put, set, position, locate, rank, identify.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Place down: to put something down on a surface.
  • He placed down his bag and sat. (He put his bag down.)
• Place upon/on: to put something onto a surface; to bestow something (like trust or blame) on someone.
  • She placed the blame on her colleague. (She attributed the fault to her colleague.)

Related Idioms

• A place in the sun: a favorable or advantageous position.
  • After years of hard work, she finally found her place in the sun.
• Between a rock and a hard place: in a difficult situation where both choices are bad.
  • The new policy puts the manager between a rock and a hard place.
• Put someone in their place: to remind someone of their lower status; to humble someone.
  • His arrogant comment made her want to put him in his place.

Noun

1. a blank area
   • write your name in the space provided
2. an item on a list or in a sequence
   • in the second place
   • moved from third to fifth position
3. a public square with room for pedestrians
   • they met at Elm Plaza
   • Grosvenor Place
4. proper or appropriate position or location
   • a woman's place is no longer in the kitchen
5. the passage that is being read
   • he lost his place on the page
6. a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
   • he booked their seats in advance
   • he sat in someone else's place
7. proper or designated social situation
   • he overstepped his place
   • the responsibilities of a man in his station
   • married above her station
8. the particular portion of space occupied by something
   • he put the lamp back in its place
9. a job in an organization
   • he occupied a post in the treasury
10. where you live at a particular time
    • deliver the package to my home
    • he doesn't have a home to go to
    • your place or mine?
11. a particular situation
    • If you were in my place what would you do?
12. the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
    • can you go in my stead?
    • took his place
    • in lieu of
13. a general vicinity
    • He comes from a place near Chicago
14. 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
15. any area set aside for a particular purpose
    • who owns this place?
    • the president was concerned about the property across from the White House
16. a point located with respect to surface features of some region
    • this is a nice place for a picnic
    • a bright spot on a planet

Verb

1. sing a note with the correct pitch
2. finish second or better in a horse or dog race
   • he bet $2 on number six to place
3. assign to a station
4. make an investment
   • Put money into bonds
5. identify the location or place of
   • We localized the source of the infection
6. estimate
   • We put the time of arrival at 8 P.M.
7. locate
   • The film is set in Africa
8. assign to (a job or a home)
9. recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something
   • She identified the man on the 'wanted' poster
10. intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
    • He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face
    • criticism directed at her superior
    • direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself
11. take a place in a competition; often followed by an ordinal
    • Jerry came in third in the Marathon
12. to arrange for
    • place a phone call
    • place a bet
13. assign a location to
    • The company located some of their agents in Los Angeles
14. assign a rank or rating to
    • how would you rank these students?
    • The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide
15. place somebody in a particular situation or location
    • he was placed on probation
16. put into a certain place or abstract location
    • Put your things here
    • Set the tray down
    • Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
    • Place emphasis on a certain point