# locate

> English word · Verb · IPA /lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt/ · frequency rank #7,809

## Definitions
1. To place; to set in a particular spot or position.
2. To find out where something is located.
3. To designate the site or place of; to define the limits of (Note: the designation may be purely descriptive: it need not be prescriptive.)
4. To place oneself; to take up one's residence; to settle.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin locātus, perfect passive participle of locō (“to place”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from locus (“place”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French louer; see also local and lieu.

## Easily confused with
- **Locke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/locate-vs-locke)
- **lotte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/locate-vs-lotte)
- **Lovato** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/locate-vs-lovato)
- **located** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/locate-vs-located)
- **locator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/locate-vs-locator)
- **late** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/late-vs-locate)
- **local** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/local-vs-locate)
- **loath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loath-vs-locate)
- **loathe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loathe-vs-locate)
- **locale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/locale-vs-locate)
- **lactate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lactate-vs-locate)

## Common misspellings (8)
`lcoate`, `llocate`, `loacte`, `locaet`, `locatte`, `loccate`, `loctae`, `olcate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/locate