pleɪs n. & v. --n. 1 a a
particular portion of
space. b a portion of space occupied by a
person or
thing (it
has changed
its place). c a
proper or
natural position (he is
out of
his place;
take your places). 2 a
city,
town,
village, etc. (was
born in
this place). 3 a
residence; a
dwelling (has a place in
the country;
come round to my place). 4 a a
group of houses in a town
etc.,
esp. a
square. b a country
house with its
surroundings. 5 a person's rank or
status (know
their place; a place in history). 6 a space, esp. a
seat,
for a person (two places in the coach). 7 a
building or
area for a
specific purpose (place of
worship; bathing-place). 8 a a
point reached in a
book etc. (lost my place). b a passage in a book. 9 a particular
spot on a
surface, esp. of the
skin (a
sore place on his wrist). 10 a
employment or
office, esp.
government employment (lost his place at the Ministry). b the duties or entitlements of office etc. (is his place to
hire staff). 11 a position as a
member of a
team, a
student in a
college, etc. 12
Brit.
any of the
first three or
sometimes four positions in a race, esp.
other than the
winner (backed it for a place). 13 the position of a
figure in a
series indicated in
decimal or
similar notation (calculated to 50 decimal places). --v.tr. 1 put (a thing etc.) in a particular place or
state;
arrange. 2
identify,
classify, or
remember correctly (cannot place him). 3
assign to a particular place;
locate. 4 a
appoint (a person, esp. a member of the clergy) to a post. b
find a
situation,
living, etc. for. c (usu. foll. by with)
consign to a person's
care etc. (placed
her with her aunt). 5 assign rank,
importance, or
worth to (place
him among the
best teachers). 6 a
dispose of (goods) to a
customer. b
make (an
order for goods etc.). 7 (often foll. by
in,
on, etc.)
have (confidence etc.). 8
invest (money). 9 Brit. state the position of (any of the first three or sometimes four runners) in a race. 10 tr. (as placed adj.) a Brit. among the first three or sometimes four in a race. b US second in a race. 11
Football get (a goal) by a place-kick. øall
over the place in
disorder; chaotic.
give place to 1 make
room for. 2
yield precedence to. 3 be succeeded
by. go places colloq. be
successful. in place in the
right position;
suitable. in place of in
exchange for;
instead of. in places at
some places or in some parts, but
not others.
keep a person in his or her place
suppress a person's pretensions. out of place 1 in the
wrong position. 2
unsuitable. place-bet 1 Brit. a
bet on a
horse to come first, second,
third, or sometimes
fourth in a race. 2 US a bet on a horse to come second. place-brick an imperfectly
burnt brick from the
windward side of the
kiln. place card a card
marking a person's place at a
table etc. place in the
sun a
favourable situation, position, etc. place-kick Football a kick
made when the ball is previously placed on the ground. place-mat a
small mat on a table
underneath a person's
plate. place-name the
name of a town, village,
hill,
field, lake, etc. place-setting a set of plates,
cutlery, etc. for
one person at a meal. put
oneself in another's place
imagine oneself in another's position. put a person in his or her place
deflate or
humiliate a person. take place
occur. take one's place go to one's
correct position, be seated, etc. take the place of be substituted for;
replace. øøplaceless adj. placement n. [ME f. OF f. L platea f. Gk plateia (hodos)
broad (way)]