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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To take the place of

Place \Place\ (pl[=a]s), n. [F., fr. L. platea a street, an area, a courtyard, from Gr. platei^a a street, properly fem. of platy`s, flat, broad; akin to Skr. p[.r]thu, Lith. platus. Cf. Flawn, Piazza, Plate, Plaza.]

  1. Any portion of space regarded as measured off or distinct from all other space, or appropriated to some definite object or use; position; ground; site; spot; rarely, unbounded space.

    Here is the place appointed.
    --Shak.

    What place can be for us Within heaven's bound?
    --Milton.

    The word place has sometimes a more confused sense, and stands for that space which any body takes up; and so the universe is a place.
    --Locke.

  2. A broad way in a city; an open space; an area; a court or short part of a street open only at one end. ``Hangman boys in the market place.''
    --Shak.

  3. A position which is occupied and held; a dwelling; a mansion; a village, town, or city; a fortified town or post; a stronghold; a region or country.

    Are you native of this place?
    --Shak.

  4. Rank; degree; grade; order of priority, advancement, dignity, or importance; especially, social rank or position; condition; also, official station; occupation; calling. ``The enervating magic of place.''
    --Hawthorne.

    Men in great place are thrice servants.
    --Bacon.

    I know my place as I would they should do theirs.
    --Shak.

  5. Vacated or relinquished space; room; stead (the departure or removal of another being or thing being implied). ``In place of Lord Bassanio.''
    --Shak.

  6. A definite position or passage of a document.

    The place of the scripture which he read was this.
    --Acts viii. 32.

  7. Ordinal relation; position in the order of proceeding; as, he said in the first place.

  8. Reception; effect; -- implying the making room for.

    My word hath no place in you.
    --John viii. 37.

  9. (Astron.) Position in the heavens, as of a heavenly body; -- usually defined by its right ascension and declination, or by its latitude and longitude.

  10. (Racing) The position of first, second, or third at the finish, esp. the second position. In betting, to win a bet on a horse for place it must, in the United States, finish first or second, in England, usually, first, second, or third. Place of arms (Mil.), a place calculated for the rendezvous of men in arms, etc., as a fort which affords a safe retreat for hospitals, magazines, etc. --Wilhelm. High place (Script.), a mount on which sacrifices were offered. ``Him that offereth in the high place.'' --Jer. xlviii. 35. In place, in proper position; timely. Out of place, inappropriate; ill-timed; as, his remarks were out of place. Place kick (Football), the act of kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground. Place name, the name of a place or locality. --London Academy. To give place, to make room; to yield; to give way; to give advantage. ``Neither give place to the devil.'' --Eph. iv. 27. ``Let all the rest give place.'' --Shak. To have place, to have a station, room, or seat; as, such desires can have no place in a good heart. To take place.

    1. To come to pass; to occur; as, the ceremony will not take place.

    2. To take precedence or priority.
      --Addison.

    3. To take effect; to prevail. ``If your doctrine takes place.''
      --Berkeley. ``But none of these excuses would take place.''
      --Spenser.

      To take the place of, to be substituted for.

      Syn: Situation; seat; abode; position; locality; location; site; spot; office; employment; charge; function; trust; ground; room; stead.

Usage examples of "to take the place of".

Hans now hired three Icelanders to take the place of the horses—.

Then Rex, with Lyon and Riley as a guard, got into the whale boat, and having loosed the two prisoners from their bonds, ordered them to take the place of Russen and Fair.

It is all a groping and ignorant effort to construct out of base metal and brass filings, so to speak, something to take the place of that golden treasure denied them by Nature, a child.

They chose a Thain to take the place of the King, and were content.

Henceforth letter-writing had to take the place of all the affection that could not be lived.

Once he was dead, the remaining resource could be tracked down and forced to take the place of Smithback.

Though their find was halfway covered by the heavy ice, they could see the stern plainly, as well as part of that rise of the strange hump which appeared to take the place of sails.

The priest hadn't stopped to dally with them, he'd stopped to give them a load of fire and brimstone to take the place of the sweet scents they were wearing: bitch wolves was the nicest thing he called them, and went on to things like haughty, vainglorious, lecherous betrayers, ready for every wickedness, and fickle in love (which, when applied to a succubus, is about like calling the ocean damp).

Aircraft has taken and will continue to take the place of the sailing vessel and the steamer.

The moon rose as Tai, grasping two dorsal fins, was taken on a wild ride around the little cove, dolphins leaping high in escort and vying to take the place of any who lost her hand.