CEFR B1

place holder

noun phrase

Meaning

A temporary item or character used to mark a position or reserve space, especially in a document, database, or web form, until the actual information is available.

Examples

The programmer inserted a place holder in the code to remind herself to add the actual function later.
The designer used a place holder image in the layout until the final graphics were ready.

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place holder (B1)

noun phrase

Pronunciation: /ˈpleɪs ˈhoʊldər/

Definition

A temporary item or character used to mark a position or reserve space, especially in a document, database, or web form, until the actual information is available.

Examples

The programmer inserted a place holder in the code to remind herself to add the actual function later.
The designer used a place holder image in the layout until the final graphics were ready.
The teacher asked students to use a place holder in their essays to indicate where they would insert the actual quotes.

How to Use place holder

use as a place holder (phrase): to use something temporarily until the actual item is available — "The designer used a block of text as a place holder until the final copy was ready."
hold a place (phrase): to reserve a position or space for something — "The teacher asked the student to hold a place in line for her friend."

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