词性: nounposition / point / area
1 [C] a particular position, point or area:
Is this the place where it happened? * This would be a good place for a picnic. * I can't be in two places at once.
city / town / building
2 [C] a particular city, town, building, etc:
I can't remember all the places we visited in Thailand. * I used to live in York and I'm still fond of the place. * The police searched the place. * We were looking for a place to eat. * Let's get out of this place!
3 [C] (especially in compounds or phrases) a building or an area of land used for a particular purpose:
a meeting place * The town has many excellent eating places. * churches and other places of worship * He can usually be contacted at his place of work.
seealsoRESTINGPLACE
area on surface
4 [C] a particular area on a surface, especially on a person's body:
He broke his arm in three places. * The paint was peeling off the wall in places.
in book / speech, etc.
5 [C] a point in a book, speech, piece of music, etc., especially one that sb has reached at a particular time:
She had marked her place with a bookmark. * Excuse me, I seem to have lost my place. * The audience laughed in all the right places. * This is one of the few places in his work where he mentions his childhood.
seat
6 [C] a position, seat, etc., especially one that is available for or being used by a person or vehicle:
Come and sit here-I've saved you a place. * I don't want to lose my place in the line. * Would you like to change places with me so you can see better? * I've set a place for you at the table.
role / importance
7 [sing.] ~ (in sth) the role or importance of sb/sth in a particular situation, usually in relation to others:
He is assured of his place in history. * Accurate reporting takes second place to lurid detail. * My father believed that people should know their place (= behave according to their social position). * It's not your place (= your role) to give advice. * Anecdotes have no place in (= are not acceptable in) an academic essay.
at university / school
8 [C] an opportunity to take part in sth, especially to study at a school or university or on a course:
She's been offered a place at Bath to study Business. * There are very few places left on the course.
in sports team
9 [C] the position of being a member of a sports team:
She has won a place in the Olympic team. * He lost his place in the first team.
correct position
10 [C] the natural or correct position for sth:
Is there a place on the form to put your address? * Put it back in its place when you've finished with it.
safe area
11 [C] (usually with a negative) a suitable or safe area for sb to be:
These streets are no place for a child to be out alone at night.
home
12 [sing.] a house or flat/apartment; a person's home:
What about dinner at my place? * I'm fed up with living with my parents, so I'm looking for a place of my own. * I thought I'd better clean the place up.
in race / competition
13 [C,usually sing.] a position among the winning competitors in a race or competition:
He finished in third place.
mathematics
14 [C] the position of a figure after a DECIMALPOINT:
The number is correct to three decimal places.
street / square
15 (Place) [sing.] (abbreviation Pl.) used as part of a name for a short street or square:
66 Portland Place
IDIOMS
all over the place (BrE also all over the shop) (AmE also all over the lot) (informal)
1 everywhere:
New restaurants are appearing all over the place.
2 not neat or tidy; not well organized:
Your calculations are all over the place (= completely wrong).
change / swap places (with sb) (usually used in negative sentences) to be in sb else's situation:
I'm perfectly happy-I wouldn't change places with anyone.
fall / slot into place if sth complicated or difficult to understand falls or slots into place, it becomes organized or clear in your mind:
Then I found his diary and it all began to fall into place.
give place to sb/sth (formal) to be replaced by sb/sth:
Houses and factories gave place to open fields as the train gathered speed.
be going places to be getting more and more successful in your life or career:
a young architect who's really going places
if I was / were in your place used to introduce a piece of advice you are giving to sb:
If I were in your place, I'd resign immediately.
in the first place used at the end of a sentence to talk about why sth was done or whether it should have been done or not:
I still don't understand why you chose that name in the first place. * I should never have taken that job in the first place.
in the first, second, etc. place used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the different points you are making in an argument:
Well, in the first place he has all the right qualifications.
in my, your, etc. place in my, your, etc. situation:
I wouldn't like to be in your place.
in place
