place (plās)
n.

1. 1. An area with definite or indefinite boundaries; a portion of space.
   2. Room or space, especially adequate space: There is place for everyone at the back of the room.
2. 1. The particular portion of space occupied by or allocated to a person or thing.
   2. A building or an area set aside for a specified purpose: a place of worship.
3. 1. A dwelling; a house: bought a place on the lake.
   2. A business establishment or office.
   3. A locality, such as a town or city: visited many places.
4. (Abbr. Pl.) A public square or street with houses in a town.
5. 1. A space in which one person, such as a passenger or spectator, can sit or stand.
   2. A setting for one person at a table.
6. A position regarded as belonging to someone or something else; stead: She was chosen in his place.
7. A particular point that one has reached, as in a book: I have lost my place.
8. A particular spot, as on the body: the place that hurts.
9. 1. The proper or designated role or function: the place of the media in a free society.
   2. The proper or customary position or order: These books are out of place.
   3. A suitable setting or occasion: not the place to argue.
   4. The appropriate right or duty: not her place to criticize.
10. Social station: He overstepped his place.
11. A particular situation or circumstance: Put yourself in my place.
12. High rank or status.
13. A job, post, or position: found a place in the company.
14. Relative position in a series; standing.
15. Games. Second position for betting purposes, as in a horserace.
16. The specified stage in a list of points to be made, as in an argument: in the first place.
17. Mathematics. A position in a numeral or series.

v., placed, plac·ing, plac·es.

v.tr.

1. To put in or as if in a particular place or position; set.
2. To put in a specified relation or order: Place the words in alphabetical order.
3. To offer for consideration: placed the matter before the board.
4. To find accommodation or employment for.
5. To put into a particular condition: placed him under arrest.
6. To arrange for the publication or display of: place an advertisement in the newspaper.
7. To appoint to a post: placed her in a key position.
8. 1. To rank in an order or sequence: I'd place him second best.
   2. To estimate: placed the distance at 100 feet.
9. To identify or classify in a particular context: could not place that person's face.
10. 1. To give an order for: place a bet.
    2. To apply or arrange for: place an order.
11. To adjust (one's voice) for the best possible effects.

v.intr.
To be among those who finish a competition or race, especially to finish second.

phrasal verb:

place out

1. To qualify for a waiver of a requirement or prerequisite: placed out of a freshman composition class.

idioms:

all over the place

1. In or to many locations; everywhere: Film is sold all over the place.

in place

1. In the appropriate or usual position or order: With everything in place, she started the slide show.
2. In the same spot; without moving forwards or backwards: While marching in place, the band played a popular tune.

in place of

1. Instead of.

keep (or know) (one's) place

1. To recognize one's social position and act according to traditional decorum.

place in the sun

1. A dominant or favorable position or situation.

[Middle English, from Old English plæce and Old French place, open space (from Medieval Latin placea , from Vulgar Latin *plattea), both from Latin platēa, broad street, from Greek plateia (hodos), broad (street), feminine of platus.]

placeable place'a·ble adj.
placer plac'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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