1. To set or assign someone or something at a particular location. Please put each guest's name tag at their seat at the table. They placed two police officers at the door to his hospital room so that he couldn't escape.

2. To establish, determine, or discover that someone or something was present at a particular location and (typically) a particular time. Based on the evidence, we can place Mr. and Mrs. Smith at the exhibit around 9 PM. The liquid on the computer matches the sample taken from the crime scene, so we can definitely place it there at some point yesterday.

3. To indicate, evidence, or prove that someone or something was present at a particular location and (typically) a particular time. The paint on our suspect's shoes place him at the scene of the crime just before the murder took place. Just make sure you don't leave anything behind that places your car at the warehouse between those hours.