Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - position

(positions, positioning, positioned) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. The position of someone or something is the place where they are in relation to other things. The ship was identified, and its name and position were reported to the coastguard... This conservatory enjoys an enviable position overlooking a leafy expanse. N-COUNT 2. When someone or something is in a particular position, they are sitting, lying, or arranged in that way. Hold the upper back and neck in an erect position to give support for the head... Ensure the patient is turned into the recovery position... Mr. Dambar had raised himself to a sitting position. N-COUNT: usu with supp 3. If you position something somewhere, you put it there carefully, so that it is in the right place or position. Place the pastry circles on to a baking sheet and position one apple on each circle. = place VERB: V n prep 4. Your position in society is the role and the importance that you have in it. ...the position of older people in society. N-COUNT: usu with supp 5. A position in a company or organization is a job. (FORMAL) He left a career in teaching to take up a position with the Arts Council... = post N-COUNT 6. Your position in a race or competition is how well you did in relation to the other competitors or how well you are doing. By the ninth hour the car was running in eighth position. N-COUNT: usu supp N 7. You can describe your situation at a particular time by saying that you are in a particular position. He’s going to be in a very difficult position indeed if things go badly for him... Companies should be made to reveal more about their financial position... It was not the only time he found himself in this position. = situation N-COUNT: usu sing, usu with supp 8. Your position on a particular matter is your attitude towards it or your opinion of it. (FORMAL) He could be depended on to take a moderate position on most of the key issues... = stance N-COUNT: usu supp N 9. If you are in a position to do something, you are able to do it. If you are in no position to do something, you are unable to do it. The UN system will be in a position to support the extensive relief efforts needed... I am not in a position to comment. N-SING: N to-inf 10. If someone or something is in position, they are in their correct or usual place or arrangement. This second door is an extra security measure and can be locked in position during the day... Some 28,000 US troops are moving into position. PHRASE: usu PHR after v