Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - place

 I. 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?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 ~  b. a building or locality used for a special purpose a ~ of learning a fine eating ~  c. archaic the three-dimensional compass of a material object  3.  a. a particular region, center of population, or location a nice ~ to visit  b. a building, part of a building, or area occupied as a home our summer ~  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 ~  b. a step in a sequence in the first ~, it's none of your business  c. a position at the conclusion of a competition finished in last ~  6.  a. a proper or designated niche or setting the ~ of education in society  b. an appropriate moment or point this is not the ~ to discuss compensation — Robert Moses  c. a distinct condition, position, or state of mind the postfeminist generation is in a different ~ — Betty Friedan  7.  a. an available seat or accommodation needs a ~ to stay  b. an empty or vacated position new ones will take their ~  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 ~ — Time  10. a public square ; plaza  11. a small street or court  12. second ~ at the finish (as of a horse race)  II. verb  (~d; placing)  Date: 15th century  transitive verb  1.  a. to put in or as if in a particular ~ or position ; set  b. to present for consideration a question ~d before the group  c. to put in a particular state ~ 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 ~d the value of the estate too high  c. to identify by connecting with an associated context couldn't quite ~ her face police ~d them at the crime scene  3. to distribute in an orderly manner ; arrange  4. to appoint to a position  5. to find a ~ (as a home or employment) for  6.  a. to give (an order) to a supplier  b. to give an order for ~ a bet  c. to try to establish a connection for ~ a telephone call  intransitive verb to earn a given spot in a competition; specifically to come in second (as in a horse race)  • ~able adjective