Main Entry: ¹po·si·tion

Pronunciation: \pə-ˈzi-shən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English posycion, from Anglo-French posicioun, from Latin position-, positio, from ponere to lay down, put, place, from Old Latin *posinere, from po- away (akin to Old Church Slavic po-, perfective prefix, Greek apo away) + Latin sinere to leave — more at of

Date: 14th century

1 : an act of placing or arranging: as a : the laying down of a proposition or thesis b : an arranging in order
2 : a point of view adopted and held to <made my position on the issue clear>
3 a : the point or area occupied by a physical object : location <took her position at the head of the line> b : a certain arrangement of bodily parts <rose to a standing position>
4 : a market commitment in securities or commodities; also : the inventory of a market trader
5 a : relative place, situation, or standing <is now in a position to make decisions on his own> b : social or official rank or status c : an employment for which one has been hired : job <a position with a brokerage firm> d : a situation that confers advantage or preference