Ask Difference

Area vs. Place — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 27, 2023
"Area" refers to a specific extent of space, often with defined boundaries, while "Place" denotes a particular location or point in space, often with a contextual or emotional significance.
Area vs. Place — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Area and Place

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Key Differences

The term Area typically denotes a quantifiable expanse, either in two-dimensional space or within certain boundaries. In contrast, Place often carries with it not just spatial but also cultural, emotional, or contextual connotations.
In mathematics or geography, Area is a measure of the extent of a surface, usually in square units. On the other hand, Place can be more abstract, referring to a location with a specific identity, such as one's hometown or a historic landmark.
While an Area might be described in terms of square footage or acres, denoting its size, a Place is more often described by its characteristics, history, or the experiences one has had there. For instance, Central Park in New York City is an area, but for many, it's also a place of recreation and memories.
Consider the following scenario: A person might live in an Area with a high population density, which is a more objective measurement. The same person, when referring to their Place of residence, might describe it as their home, the city they grew up in, or where they have family ties.

Comparison Chart

Definition

Specific extent of space
Particular location or point in space
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Measurement

Quantifiable (e.g., square units)
Often subjective or contextual

Context

More objective
Carries emotional or cultural significance

Usage

Describes size, region, or segment
Refers to location, identity, experiences, or memories

Example

Urban area, area of expertise
Meeting place, place of birth

Compare with Definitions

Area

A region within defined boundaries.
The picnic area is over there by the trees.

Place

A portion of space designated or available for or being used by someone
Jackie had saved her a place
They hurried to their places at the table

Area

A section of space designated for a specific purpose.
The waiting area is filled with chairs.

Place

A particular position, point, or area in space; a location
The monastery was a peaceful place
He would always have a special place in her heart
I can't be in two places at once
That street was no place for a lady

Area

A field of knowledge or interest.
Her area of expertise is neuroscience.

Place

A position in a sequence or series, typically one ordered on the basis of merit
His score left him in ninth place

Area

Area is the quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional region, shape, or planar lamina, in the plane. Surface area is its analog on the two-dimensional surface of a three-dimensional object.

Place

A square or short street
The lecture theatre is in New Burlington Place

Area

A roughly bounded part of the space on a surface; a region:a farming area; the New York area.

Place

Put in a particular position
A newspaper had been placed beside my plate

Area

A surface, especially an open, unoccupied piece of ground:a landing area; a playing area.

Place

Find a home or employment for
The children were placed with foster-parents

Area

A distinct part or section, as of a building, set aside for a specific function:a storage area in the basement.

Place

Identify or classify as being of a specified type or as holding a specified position in a sequence or hierarchy
A survey placed the company 13th for achievement

Area

A division of experience, activity, or knowledge; a field:studies in the area of finance; a job in the health-care area.

Place

Score (a goal) by a place kick.

Area

An open, sunken space next to a building; an areaway.

Place

An area with definite or indefinite boundaries; a portion of space.

Area

Abbr. AThe extent of a planar region or of the surface of a solid measured in square units.

Place

Room or space, especially adequate space
There is place for everyone at the back of the room.

Area

(mathematics) A measure of the extent of a surface; it is measured in square units.

Place

The particular portion of space occupied by or allocated to a person or thing.

Area

A particular geographic region.

Place

A building or an area set aside for a specified purpose
A place of worship.

Area

Any particular extent of surface, especially an empty or unused extent.
The photo is a little dark in that area.

Place

A dwelling; a house
Bought a place on the lake.

Area

The extent, scope, or range of an object or concept.
The plans are a bit vague in that area.

Place

A business establishment or office.

Area

(British) An open space, below ground level, giving access to the basement of a house, and typically separated from the pavement by railings.

Place

A locality, such as a town or city
Visited many places.

Area

(soccer) Penalty box; penalty area.

Place

Abbr. Pl. A public square or street with houses in a town.

Area

(slang) Genitals.

Place

A space in which one person, such as a passenger or spectator, can sit or stand.

Area

Any plane surface, as of the floor of a room or church, or of the ground within an inclosure; an open space in a building.
The Alban lake . . . looks like the area of some vast amphitheater.

Place

A setting for one person at a table.

Area

The inclosed space on which a building stands.

Place

A position regarded as belonging to someone or something else; stead
She was chosen in his place.

Area

The sunken space or court, giving ingress and affording light to the basement of a building.

Place

A particular point that one has reached, as in a book
I have lost my place.

Area

An extent of surface; a tract of the earth's surface; a region; as, vast uncultivated areas.

Place

A particular spot, as on the body
The place that hurts.

Area

The superficial contents of any figure; the surface included within any given lines; superficial extent; as, the area of a square or a triangle.

Place

The proper or designated role or function
The place of the media in a free society.

Area

A spot or small marked space; as, the germinative area.

Place

The proper or customary position or order
These books are out of place.

Area

Extent; scope; range; as, a wide area of thought.
The largest area of human history and man's common nature.

Place

A suitable setting or occasion
Not the place to argue.

Area

A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography);
It was a mountainous area
Bible country

Place

The appropriate right or duty
Not her place to criticize.

Area

A particular environment or walk of life;
His social sphere is limited
It was a closed area of employment
He's out of my orbit

Place

Social station
He overstepped his place.

Area

A subject of study;
It was his area of specialization
Areas of interest include...

Place

A particular situation or circumstance
Put yourself in my place.

Area

A part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function;
The spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants

Place

High rank or status.

Area

A part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve;
In the abdominal region

Place

A job, post, or position
Found a place in the company.

Area

The extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary;
The area of a rectangle
It was about 500 square feet in area

Place

Relative position in a series; standing.

Area

Extent of surface space.
The area of the rectangle is 20 square meters.

Place

(Games) Second position for betting purposes, as in a horserace.

Area

A geographic region.
We live in a coastal area.

Place

The specified stage in a list of points to be made, as in an argument
In the first place.

Place

(Mathematics) A position in a numeral or series.

Place

To put in or as if in a particular place or position; set.

Place

To put in a specified relation or order
Place the words in alphabetical order.

Place

To offer for consideration
Placed the matter before the board.

Place

To find accommodation or employment for.

Place

To put into a particular condition
Placed him under arrest.

Place

To arrange for the publication or display of
Place an advertisement in the newspaper.

Place

To appoint to a post
Placed her in a key position.

Place

To rank in an order or sequence
I'd place him second best.

Place

To estimate
Placed the distance at 100 feet.

Place

To identify or classify in a particular context
Could not place that person's face.

Place

To give an order for
Place a bet.

Place

To apply or arrange for
Place an order.

Place

To make or obtain a connection for (a telephone call).

Place

To sell (a new issue of stock, bonds, or other securities).

Place

To adjust (one's voice) for the best possible effects.

Place

To be among those who finish a competition or race, especially to finish second.

Place

(physical) An area; somewhere within an area.

Place

An open space, particularly a city square, market square, or courtyard.

Place

A street, sometimes but not always surrounding a public place, square, or plaza of the same name.
They live at Westminster Place.

Place

An inhabited area: a village, town, or city.

Place

Any area of the earth: a region.
He is going back to his native place on vacation.

Place

The area one occupies, particularly somewhere to sit.
We asked the restaurant to give us a table with three places.

Place

The area where one lives: one's home, formerly country estates and farms.
Do you want to come over to my place later?

Place

An area of the body, especially the skin.
Which place hurts the most?

Place

An area to urinate and defecate: an outhouse or lavatory.

Place

An area to fight: a battlefield or the contested ground in a battle.

Place

A location or position in space.

Place

A particular location in a book or document, particularly the current location of a reader.

Place

A passage or extract from a book or document.

Place

A topic.

Place

A state of mind.
I'm in a strange place at the moment.

Place

A chess position; a square of the chessboard.

Place

(social) A responsibility or position in an organization.

Place

A role or purpose; a station.
It is really not my place to say what is right and wrong in this case.

Place

The position of a contestant in a competition.
We thought we would win but only ended up in fourth place.

Place

(horse-racing) The position of first, second, or third at the finish, especially the second position.
To win a bet on a horse for place

Place

The position as a member of a sports team.
He lost his place in the national team.

Place

A fortified position: a fortress, citadel, or walled town.

Place

Numerically, the column counting a certain quantity.
Three decimal places;
The hundreds place

Place

Ordinal relation; position in the order of proceeding.
That's what I said in the first place!

Place

Reception; effect; implying the making room for.

Place

(transitive) To put (an object or person) in a specific location.
He placed the glass on the table.

Place

(intransitive) To earn a given spot in a competition.
The Cowboys placed third in the league.

Place

To finish second, especially of horses or dogs.
In the third race: Aces Up won, paying eight dollars; Blarney Stone placed, paying three dollars; and Cinnamon showed, paying five dollars.

Place

To rank at (a certain position, often followed by an ordinal) as in a horse race.
Run Ragged was placed fourth in the race.

Place

(transitive) To remember where and when (an object or person) has been previously encountered.
I've seen him before, but I can't quite place where.

Place

(transitive) To sing (a note) with the correct pitch.

Place

(transitive) To arrange for or to make (a bet).
I placed ten dollars on the Lakers beating the Bulls.

Place

(transitive) To establish a call connection by telephone or similar.

Place

(transitive) To recruit or match an appropriate person for a job, or a home for an animal for adoption, etc.
They phoned hoping to place her in the management team.

Place

To place-kick (a goal).

Place

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.
What place can be for usWithin heaven's bound?
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.

Place

A broad way in a city; an open space; an area; a court or short part of a street open only at one end.

Place

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?

Place

Rank; degree; grade; order of priority, advancement, dignity, or importance; especially, social rank or position; condition; also, official station; occupation; calling.
Men in great place are thrice servants.
I know my place as I would they should do theirs.

Place

Vacated or relinquished space; room; stead (the departure or removal of another being or thing being implied).

Place

A definite position or passage of a document.
The place of the scripture which he read was this.

Place

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

Place

Reception; effect; - implying the making room for.
My word hath no place in you.

Place

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

Place

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

To assign a place to; to put in a particular spot or place, or in a certain relative position; to direct to a particular place; to fix; to settle; to locate; as, to place a book on a shelf; to place balls in tennis.
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown.

Place

To put or set in a particular rank, office, or position; to surround with particular circumstances or relations in life; to appoint to certain station or condition of life; as, in whatever sphere one is placed.
Place such over them to be rulers.

Place

To put out at interest; to invest; to loan; as, to place money in a bank.

Place

To set; to fix; to repose; as, to place confidence in a friend.

Place

To attribute; to ascribe; to set down.
Place it for her chief virtue.

Place

To determine or announce the place of at the finish. Usually, in horse racing only the first three horses are placed officially.

Place

To place-kick ( a goal).

Place

To recognize or identify (a person).

Place

A point located with respect to surface features of some region;
This is a nice place for a picnic

Place

Any area set aside for a particular purpose;
Who owns this place?
The president was concerned about the property across from the White House

Place

An abstract mental location;
He has a special place in my thoughts
A place in my heart
A political system with no place for the less prominent groups

Place

A general vicinity;
He comes from a place near Chicago

Place

The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another;
Can you go in my stead?
Took his place
In lieu of

Place

A particular situation;
If you were in my place what would you do?

Place

Where you live at a particular time;
Deliver the package to my home
He doesn't have a home to go to
Your place or mine?

Place

A job in an organization;
He occupied a post in the treasury

Place

The particular portion of space occupied by a physical object;
He put the lamp back in its place

Place

Proper or designated social situation;
He overstepped his place
The responsibilities of a man in his station
Married above her station

Place

A space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane);
He booked their seats in advance
He sat in someone else's place

Place

The passage that is being read;
He lost his place on the page

Place

Proper or appropriate position or location;
A woman's place is no longer in the kitchen

Place

A public square with room for pedestrians;
They met at Elm Plaza
Grosvenor Place

Place

An item on a list or in a sequence;
In the second place
Moved from third to fifth position

Place

A blank area;
Write your name in the space provided

Place

Put into a certain place or abstract location;
Put your things here
Set the tray down
Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
Place emphasis on a certain point

Place

Place somebody in a particular situation or location;
He was placed on probation

Place

Assign a rank or rating to;
How would you rank these students?
The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide

Place

Assign a location to;
The company located some of their agents in Los Angeles

Place

To arrange for;
Place a phone call
Place a bet

Place

Take a place in a competition; often followed by an ordinal;
Jerry came in third in the Marathon

Place

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal;
He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face
Criticism directed at her superior
Direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself

Place

Recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something;
She identified the man on the 'wanted' poster

Place

Assign to (a job or a home)

Place

Locate;
The film is set in Africa

Place

Estimate;
We put the time of arrival at 8 P.M.

Place

Identify the location or place of;
We localized the source of the infection

Place

Make an investment;
Put money into bonds

Place

Assign to a station

Place

Finish second or better in a horse or dog race;
He bet $2 on number six to place

Place

Sing a note with the correct pitch

Place

A particular location or position.
I forgot where I put my keys. Do you know the place?

Place

A setting for a particular activity.
This is a good place for our campfire.

Place

A point in a sequence or order.
She finished the race in first place.

Place

A dwelling or residence.
I'm going back to my place to rest.

Place

A location with emotional significance.
This place holds a lot of memories for me.

Common Curiosities

How is "Area" used in math?

In math, "Area" refers to the extent of a two-dimensional surface, measured in square units.

Is "Area" always about physical space?

No, it can also refer to fields of knowledge or interest.

Does "Place" always have an emotional context?

Not always, but it can carry emotional, cultural, or historical significance.

Does "Place" always refer to a geographic location?

Often, but not always. It can also mean position in a sequence or order.

Can "Place" refer to a position in a sequence?

Yes, like in "first place" or "second place" in a race.

Can "Area" and "Place" be used interchangeably?

While sometimes used similarly, "Area" is more about size or region, and "Place" often carries emotional or cultural connotations.

What does "Area of expertise" mean?

It refers to a specific field or segment of knowledge someone is skilled in.

How does "Area" differ in urban vs. rural contexts?

In urban settings, "Area" might refer to districts or parts of a city. In rural contexts, it might denote farmland or natural regions.

Can "Place" denote a home or residence?

Yes, like in "I'm going to my place."

How is "Area" used in geography?

It can denote specific regions, like deserts, plains, or urban areas.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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