Collins English-English Dictionary

position [pə'zɪʃən]

1. 1. n the place, situation, or location of a person or thing

   he took up a position to the rear

2. 2. n the appropriate or customary location

   the telescope is in position for use

3. 3. n the arrangement or disposition of the body or a part of the body

   the corpse was found in a sitting position

4. 4. n the manner in which a person or thing is placed; arrangement

5. 5. n [Military] an area or point occupied for tactical reasons

6. 6. n mental attitude; point of view; stand

   what's your position on this issue?

7. 7. n social status or standing, esp high social standing

8. 8. n a post of employment; job

9. 9. n the act of positing a fact or viewpoint

10. 10. n something posited, such as an idea, proposition, etc

11. 11. n [sport] the part of a field or playing area where a player is placed or where he generally operates

12. 12. n [music] the vertical spacing or layout of the written notes in a chord. Chords arranged with the three upper voices close together are in close position. Chords whose notes are evenly or widely distributed are in open position - See also root position

13. 13. n one of the points on the fingerboard of a stringed instrument, determining where a string is to be stopped

14. 14. n the situation in which a short vowel may be regarded as long, that is, when it occurs before two or more consonants

15. 15. n [Finance] the market commitment of a dealer in securities, currencies, or commodities

    a long position

    a short position

16. 16. vt. [tr] to put in the proper or appropriate place; locate

17. 17. vt. [sport] to place (oneself or another player) in a particular part of the field or playing area

18. 18. vt. to put (someone or something) in a position (esp in relation to others) that confers a strategic advantage: he's trying to position himself for a leadership bid

19. 19. vt. [marketing] to promote (a product or service) by tailoring it to the needs of a specific market or by clearly differentiating it from its competitors (e.g. in terms of price or quality)

20. 20. vt. [rare] to locate or ascertain the position of

21. 21. vt. [Etymology] C15: from Late Latin positio a positioning, affirmation, from ponere to place, lay down