displace

dis·place

transitive verb \(ˌ)dis-ˈplās, di-ˈsplās\

Definition of DISPLACE

1

a : to remove from the usual or proper place; specifically : to expel or force to flee from home or homeland <displaced persons>

b : to remove from an office, status, or job

c obsolete : to drive out : banish

2

a : to move physically out of position <a floating object displaces water>

b : to take the place of (as in a chemical reaction) : supplant

— dis·place·able \-ˈplā-sə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of DISPLACE

1. The war has displaced thousands of people.
2. The hurricane displaced most of the town's residents.
3. The closing of the factory has displaced many workers.
4. farming practices that displace large amounts of soil

Origin of DISPLACE

probably from Middle French desplacer, from des- dis- + place place

First Known Use: 1549

Related to DISPLACE

Synonyms

budge, dislocate, move, disturb, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose

Antonyms

crown, enthrone, throne

Related Words

bear, carry, cart, convey, drive, haul, lug, tote, transmit, transplant, transport; replace, supersede, supplant; alter, make over, modify, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary

Near Antonyms

anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), implant, ingrain (also engrain), lodge, root

See Synonym Discussion at replace

Rhymes with DISPLACE

abase, airspace, Alsace, ambsace, apace, backspace, best-case, biface, birthplace, blackface, boldface, bookcase, bootlace, braincase, briefcase, clubface, crankcase, cyclase, debase, deface, disgrace, dogface, doughface, efface, embrace, emplace, encase, enchase, enlace, erase, euclase, firebase, fireplace, footpace, footrace, foreface, freebase, gyrase, half-space, hard case, headspace, hydrase, Jerez, kinase, lactase, lightface, lipase, lyase, maltase, manes, millrace, milreis, misplace, mutase, notecase, null-space, nutcase, outface, outpace, outrace, paleface, postface, Quilmes, replace, scapegrace, shoelace, showcase, showplace, slipcase, smearcase, someplace, staircase, subbase, subspace, suitcase, tailrace, tenace, typeface, ukase, unbrace, unlace, watchcase, wheelbase, whey-face, whiteface, workplace, worst-case

dis·place

transitive verb \(ˈ)dis-ˈplās\   (Medical Dictionary)

dis·placed; dis·plac·ing

Medical Definition of DISPLACE

1

a : to remove from the usual or proper place <in heterotopia the gray portions of the cord are displaced so that patches of gray matter are scattered among the bundles of white fibers—R. L. Cecil et al> b : to shift (an emotion or behavior) from a maladaptive or unacceptable object or form of outlet to a more adaptive or acceptable one <displace punishable behavior by directing it towards things that cannot punish—B. F. Skinner>

2

: to set free from chemical combination by taking the place of <zinc displaces the hydrogen of dilute acids>

3

: to subject to percolation