Dictionary
place
Pronunciation: (plās), [key]
—n., v., placed, plac•ing.
—
n.
1. a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent.
2. space in general:
time and place.
3. the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything:
The vase is in its place. Every item on the shelf had its place.
4. a space, area, or spot, set apart or used for a particular purpose:
a place of worship; a place of entertainment.
5. any part or spot in a body or surface:
a decayed place in a tree.
6. a particular passage in a book or writing:
to find the place where one left off reading.
7. a space or seat for a person, as in a theater, train, etc.:
Please save my place for me.
8. position, situation, or circumstances:
I would complain if I were in your place.
9. a proper or appropriate location or position:
A restaurant is not the place for an argument.
10. a job, post, or office:
persons in high places.
11. a function or duty:
It is not your place to offer criticism.
12. proper sequence or relationship, as of ideas, details, etc.:
My thoughts began to fall into place.
13. high position or rank:
aristocrats of power and place.
14. a region or area:
to travel to distant places.
15. an open space, or square, as in a city or town.
16. a short street, a court, etc.
17. a portion of space used for habitation, as a city, town, or village:
Trains rarely stop in that place anymore.
18. a building, location, etc., set aside for a specific purpose:
He will soon need a larger place for his expanding business.
19. a part of a building:
The kitchen is the sunniest place in the house.
20. a residence, dwelling, or house:
Please come and have dinner at my place.
21. lieu; substitution (usually fol. by
of):
Use yogurt in place of sour cream.
22. a step or point in order of proceeding:
in the first place.
23. a fitting or promising opportunity:
There's a place in this town for a man of his talents.
24. a reasonable ground or occasion:
This is no place for such an outburst.
25. Arith.
a. the position of a figure in a series, as in decimal notation.
b. Usually,
places. the figures of the series.
26. Drama.one of the three unities. Cf.
unity (def. 8).
27. Sports.
a. a position among the leading competitors, usually the first, second, or third at the finish line.
b. the position of the competitor who comes in second in a horse race, harness race, etc. Cf.
show (def. 29),
win (def. 17).
28. places, Theat.a call summoning performers for the beginning of a performance or an act.
29. room or space for entry or passage:
to make place for the gentry.
30. give place to,
a. to give precedence or priority to:
The old gives place to the new.
b. to be succeeded or replaced by:
Travel by trains has given place to travel by airplanes.
31. go places, Informal.to succeed or advance in one's career:
He'll never go places if he stays in his hometown.
32. in place,
a. in the correct or usual position or order:
Dinner is ready and everything is in place.
b. in the same spot, without advancing or retreating:
Stand by your desk and jog in place for a few minutes of exercise.
33. know or keep one's place, to recognize one's position or rank, esp. if inferior, and behave or act accordingly:
They treated their servants well but expected them always to know their place.
34. out of place,
a. not in the correct or usual position or order:
The library books are all out of place.
b. 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.
35. put someone in his or her place, to lower someone's self-esteem; humble, esp. an arrogant person:
She put me in my place by reminding me who was boss.
36. take place, to happen; occur:
The commencement exercises will take place outdoors unless it rains.
—
v.t.
1. to put in the proper position or order; arrange; dispose:
Place the silverware on the table for dinner.
2. to put or set in a particular place, position, situation, or relation.
3. to put in a suitable place for some purpose:
to place an advertisement in the newspaper.
4. to put into particular or proper hands:
to place some incriminating evidence with the district attorney.
5. to give (an order or the like) to a supplier:
She placed the order for the pizza an hour ago.
6. to appoint (a person) to a post or office:
The president placed him in the Department of Agriculture.
7. to find a place, situation, etc., for (a person):
The agency had no trouble placing him with a good firm.
8. to determine or indicate the place or value of:
to place health among the greatest gifts in life.
9. to assign a certain position or rank to:
The army placed him in the infantry.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. to employ (the voice) for singing or speaking with consciousness of the bodily point of emphasis of resonance of each tone or register.
—
v.i.
1. Sports.
a. to finish among the first three competitors in a race.
b. to finish second in a horse race, harness race, etc.
2. to earn a specified standing with relation to others, as in an examination, competition, etc.:
He placed fifth in a graduation class of 90. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
