place */*/*/

I UK [pleɪs] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "place":
singular place plural places

1)

a) an area, or a position

I don't like crowded places.

Let's find a quiet place where we can talk.

Keep your credit cards in a safe place.

Will had broken his jaw in three places.

b) the position where someone or something is, or where it should be

She put the book back in its place.

Cara walked back to her place and sat down.

into place (= into the correct position):

She shut the door and slid the bolt into place.

The mechanism locked into place.

2) a particular town, country, building, shop etc

They live in a small place called Clovelly.

With a bit of work this place could look lovely.

This is the only place that sells this type of bike.

The trip includes a visit to York and other places of interest.

a) an area, building, or space that is used for or suitable for a particular purpose

a popular eating place

place for:

Cyprus is a great place for a holiday.

place to do something:

Is this a safe place to swim?

I always think Italy would be a great place to live.

b) a house, flat etc for living in

They've bought a lovely little place in the countryside.

your/my/her etc place:

Let's have the party at my place.

3) an opportunity to be a member of a sports team or to take part in a game or competition

win/secure/earn/clinch a place:

Lewis has earned a place in the Olympic team.

Arsenal clinched a place in the semi-finals with a 2–0 win at Liverpool.

a) British an opportunity to join a school, college, course etc

Nursery places for children are scarce in some parts of the country.

I must remember to book a place on the French course.

Course organizers are hoping that all the places will be filled.

get/secure/win/gain a place:

Steven has secured a place at Manchester University.

b) an opportunity to be part of an organization or business

place on:

She was offered a place on the committee.

They're looking for someone to fill Jackson's place on the management team.

4) a seat on a train or bus, in a theatre etc, or a position in a queue

There's no place to sit.

lose your place:

I had to go to the toilet and lost my place in the queue.

save/keep someone's place:

Would you mind saving my place for a minute?

5) the position that you achieve in a race or competition

After a good performance at Wimbledon, she jumped six places in the world rankings.

first/second etc place:

Sevilla finished in fifth place in the Champions' League.

Rafferty completed his round in 69, to take third place at the halfway stage.

6) the right occasion, or the right time for something

This isn't the place to talk about the subject.

neither the time nor the place:

This is neither the time nor the place to discuss our relationship.

7) the point that you have reached in a book, speech etc

He marked his place with a piece of paper.

lose your place:

I lost my place (= forgot what I was saying) when he interrupted me.

8) [usually singular] the importance that someone or something has in people's lives or in their minds

The house will always have a place in our hearts.

a discussion about the place of soap operas in popular culture

someone's place in history:

De Klerk secured his place in history by releasing Mandela and starting the process of change.

9) the set of dishes, knives, forks, and spoons arranged on a table for one person to use

a table set with three places

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change/swap/trade places (with someone) — to take someone's position while they take yours

I'd love to swap places with someone famous, just for a day.

fall/fit into place — if something falls or fits into place, you suddenly understand something that you previously have been unable to understand; if things fall or fit into place, they start to happen in the way that you want them to

It all fell into place when I learned he'd been to London that weekend.

After weeks of total chaos, suddenly everything just fell into place.

place of work/business/residence — formal the area where you work/have your business/live

He lives in a hostel attached to his place of work.

- all over the place

- as if you own the place

- be no place for

- going places

- have no place

- in place

- in someone's place

- in place of

- in places

- out of place

- place of worship

- take someone's place

- take something's place

- take your place

II UK [pleɪs] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "place":
present tense I/you/we/they place he/she/it places present participle placing past tense placed past participle placed

1) to put something somewhere, especially in a careful or deliberate way

place something on/under/into etc something:

Ella placed the dish on the table.

"Don't worry," said Judy, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, and gradually add water.

2)

a) to put someone in a particular situation or state, especially a difficult or unpleasant one

place someone in/at/under something:

Her decision places me in an awkward situation.

The high level of the pound is placing exporters at a serious disadvantage.

place someone/something under strain/pressure:

The company is severely understaffed, which places employees under great pressure.

b) to put a person or place under someone else's control or protection

place someone/something under something:

At the end of the war, the island was placed under French control.

We place each trainee under the care and supervision of an experienced member of staff.

Monga had his passport withdrawn, and was placed under house arrest.

3) if you place limits, responsibilities, pressures etc on someone, you make them experience them

place limits/restrictions on:

Parents should place limits on the amount of time their children spend on the Internet.

place burdens/strain/pressure on:

The large influx of refugees was placing a great burden on Pakistan's resources.

4) to have a particular attitude towards someone or something

place blame/faith/hope/reliance etc on:

She placed the blame squarely on George.

He placed great faith in her abilities.

5) to decide how good or important something is in comparison with other things

place something above something:

The company was accused of placing profits above safety.

place emphasis/importance/value on something:

The school places great emphasis on the welfare of its students.

Customers were placing more importance on quality than simply on cost.

6) to arrange for someone to work or live somewhere

He had to place his mother in a nursing home.

The employment agency placed me with a local law firm.

7)

a) [always passive] British to finish second or third in a race, especially in a horse race

b) [intransitive] mainly American to finish a competition in a particular position

place first/third etc:

The 23-year-old from Idaho placed first in the downhill race.

8) [usually in negatives] to recognize someone or something and remember their name

He looks familiar, but I can't place him.

I could hear music in the background, but the tune was difficult to place.

9) if you place an advertisement, you arrange for it to be in a newspaper or magazine

10) if you place a bet, you give money to someone saying that you think a person, team, animal etc will win a competition

11) if you place an order, you ask a company to sell you something and send it to you

Orders may be placed by telephone or on the Internet.

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be placed first/second etc — to finish in first/second etc position

be well/conveniently/ideally/strategically etc placed — to be in a particular place, especially one that is convenient or has other advantages

The hotel is right in the centre of Innsbruck, ideally placed for all the shops, cafes and nightlife.

There are light switches conveniently placed on each side of the bed.

be well/ideally/uniquely etc placed to do something — to be in a particular situation that gives you an advantage or opportunity

He was ideally placed to get the job.

With a strong economy and stable currency, the country is well placed to cope with the challenges of joining the EU.

how are you placed for something? — spoken used for asking whether someone has enough of something

How are you placed for cash?

how are you placed for doing something? — British

spoken used for asking whether someone can do something

How are you placed for looking after the kids at the weekend?

- place something in someone's hands