Displace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Displacing.]
Etymology: [Pref. dis- + place: cf. F. déplacer.]
1. To change the place of; to remove from the usual or proper place; to put out of place; to place in another situation; as, the books in the library are all displaced.
2. To crowd out; to take the place of. Holland displaced Portugal as the mistress of those seas. London Times.
3. To remove from a state, office, dignity, or employment; to discharge; to depose; as, to displace an officer of the revenue.
4. To dislodge; to drive away; to banish. [Obs.] You have displaced the mirth. Shak.
1 more senses
Syn. -- To disarrange; derange; dismiss; discard.
Shades of meaning
Objects are displaced when moved out of the place they have occupied; they are misplaced when put into a place where they should not be. One may know where to find what he has misplaced; what he has mislaid he can not locate.