I. ˈplās 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 pṛthu 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
- in place of
- out of place
II. verb
( placed ; plac·ing )
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to put in or as if in a particular place or position : set
b. : to present for consideration
a question placed before the group
c. : to put in a particular state
place a performer under contract
d. : to direct to a desired spot
e. : to cause (the voice) to produce free and well resonated singing or speaking tones
2.
a. : to assign to a position in a series or category : rank
b. : estimate
placed the value of the estate too high
c. : to identify by connecting with an associated context
couldn't quite place her face
police placed them at the crime scene
3. : to distribute in an orderly manner : arrange
4. : to appoint to a position
5. : to find a place (as a home or employment) for
6.
a. : to give (an order) to a supplier
b. : to give an order for
place a bet
c. : to try to establish a connection for
place a telephone call
intransitive verb
: to earn a given spot in a competition ; specifically : to come in second (as in a horse race)
• place·able ˈplā-sə-bəl adjective