Rotten place, free (6)
I believe the answer is:
putrid
'rotten' is the definition.
('putrid' can be a synonym of 'rotten')
'place free' is the wordplay.
'place' becomes 'put' ('put' can be a synonym of 'place'**).
'free' becomes 'rid' ('rid' can be a synonym of 'free').
'put'+'rid'='PUTRID'
(Other definitions for putrid that I've seen before include "Really rotten and foul-smelling" , "Decomposing and fetid" , "Rotting and foul-smelling" , "High" , "Decomposed, rotting" .)