n.
Pronunciation: ' pl ā s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, open space, from Latin platea broad street, from Greek plateia ( hodos ), from feminine of platys broad, flat; akin to Sanskrit p ṛ thu broad, Latin planta sole of the foot
Date: 13th century
1 a : physical environment : SPACE b : a way for admission or transit c : physical surroundings : ATMOSPHERE
2 a : an indefinite region or expanse <all over the place > b : a building or locality used for a special purpose <a place of learning> <a fine eating place > c archaic : the three-dimensional compass of a material object
3 a : a particular region, center of population, or location <a nice place to visit> b : a building, part of a building, or area occupied as a home <our summer place >
4 : a particular part of a surface or body : SPOT
5 : relative position in a scale or series: as a : position in a social scale <kept them in their place > b : a step in a sequence <in the first place , it's none of your business> c : a position at the conclusion of a competition <finished in last place >
6 a : a proper or designated niche or setting <the place of education in society> b : an appropriate moment or point <this is not the place to discuss compensation ― Robert Moses> c : a distinct condition, position, or state of mind <the postfeminist generation is in a different place ― Betty Friedan>
7 a : an available seat or accommodation <needs a place to stay> b : an empty or vacated position <new ones will take their place >
8 : the position of a figure in relation to others of a row or series especially : the position of a digit within a numeral
9 a : remunerative employment : JOB b : prestige accorded to one of high rank : STATUS <an endless quest for preferment and place ― Time >
10 : a public square : PLAZA
11 : a small street or court
12 : second place at the finish (as of a horse race)
– in place
1 also into place a : in an original or proper position b : established, instituted, or operational <systems in place >
2 : in the same spot without forward or backward movement <run in place >
– in place of : as a substitute or replacement for : INSTEAD OF
– out of place
1 : not in the proper or usual location
2 : IMPROPER , INAPPROPRIATE