Definition of play - WordReference.com Dictionary

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play:

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Adapted From: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

play
A	noun
	1	play, swordplay
			the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚action ╚play, swordplay ╚fencing
	2	play, child's play
			play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚diversion; recreation ╚play, child's play ╚fireman ╚doctor ╚house
	3	turn, play
			the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚turn, play ╚ruff; trumping ╚lead ╚bat; at-bat ╚down ╚attack ╚innings ╚start; starting ╚move
	4	gambling, gaming, play
			the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚diversion; recreation ╚gambling, gaming, play ╚throw ╚unlicensed gambling ╚game of chance; gambling game ╚bet; wager ╚sporting life
	5	play, frolic, romp, gambol, caper
			gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚diversion; recreation ╚play, frolic, romp, gambol, caper ╚word play ╚teasing ╚horseplay ╚game ╚folly; foolery; tomfoolery; craziness; lunacy; indulgence ╚flirt; flirting; flirtation; coquetry; dalliance; toying
	6	maneuver, manoeuvre, play
			a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚action ╚change ╚motion; movement; move ╚maneuver, manoeuvre, play ╚footwork ╚obstruction ╚jugglery ╚icing; icing the puck ╚assist ╚ball hawking ╚completion; pass completion ╚figure ╚takeaway
	7	play
			a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚content; cognitive content; mental object ╚idea; thought ╚plan; program; programme ╚plan of action ╚play ╚baseball play ╚basketball play ╚razzle-dazzle; razzle; razzmatazz; razmataz ╚football play ╚knock on
	8	bid, play
			an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚attempt; effort; endeavor; endeavour; try ╚bid, play
	9	play
			utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚use; usage; utilization; utilisation; employment; exercise ╚play
	10	looseness, play
			movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚attribute ╚quality ╚mobility ╚movability; movableness ╚looseness, play ╚slack; slackness ╚wiggliness
	11	fun, play, sport
			verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚relation ╚social relation ╚communication ╚message; content; subject matter; substance ╚wit; humor; humour; witticism; wittiness ╚fun, play, sport ╚pun; punning; wordplay; paronomasia ╚drollery; clowning; comedy; funniness ╚waggery; waggishness ╚jocosity; jocularity
	12	play, drama, dramatic play
			a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚relation ╚social relation ╚communication ╚written communication; written language ╚writing; written material; piece of writing ╚dramatic composition; dramatic work ╚play, drama, dramatic play ╚playlet ╚theater of the absurd ╚Grand Guignol
	13	play
			a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
		Category Tree: event ╚social event ╚show ╚play ╚curtain raiser ╚musical; musical comedy; musical theater
	14	shimmer, play
			a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
		Category Tree: event ╚happening; occurrence; natural event ╚change; alteration; modification ╚shimmer, play
	15	free rein, play
			the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"
		Category Tree: state ╚freedom ╚free rein, play
	16	play
			a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"
		Category Tree: state ╚action; activity; activeness ╚play
	17	playing period, period of play, play
			(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚measure; quantity; amount ╚playing period, period of play, play ╚final period ╚third period ╚second period ╚first period ╚turn; bout; round ╚set ╚inning; frame ╚chukka; chukker ╚hole; golf hole
B	verb
	1	play, toy
			engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stockmarket"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"
		Category Tree: act; behave; do ╚play, toy
	2	act, play, act as
			pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
		Category Tree: act; behave; do ╚act, play, act as
	3	dally, trifle, play
			consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
		Category Tree: think; cogitate; cerebrate ╚think about ╚consider; take; deal; look at ╚dally, trifle, play
	4	play
			participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
		Category Tree: compete; vie; contend ╚play ╚misplay ╚die ╚develop ╚develop ╚revoke ╚snooker ╚curl
	5	play
			bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
		Category Tree: compete; vie; contend ╚play ╚gamble ╚play ╚underplay
	6	play
			put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"
		Category Tree: move; displace ╚put; set; place; pose; position; lay ╚position ╚deploy ╚play ╚declare ╚cover ╚pitch
	7	play
			use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"
		Category Tree: use; utilize; utilise; apply; employ ╚exploit; work ╚play
	8	play
			discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
		Category Tree: spread; distribute ╚discharge ╚play
	9	toy, fiddle, diddle, play
			manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination; "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"
		Category Tree: touch ╚handle; palm ╚manipulate ╚toy, fiddle, diddle, play ╚put out; retire
	10	bring, work, play, wreak, make for
			cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "I cannot work a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"
		Category Tree: make; create ╚bring, work, play, wreak, make for
	11	play
			perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
		Category Tree: make; create ╚re-create ╚perform ╚play
	12	play
			be performed; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

	13	play, run
			cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"

	14	play
			emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
		Category Tree: sound ╚play
	15	act, play, represent
			play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"
		Category Tree: make; create ╚re-create ╚act, play, represent ╚make; pretend; make believe
	16	act, play, roleplay, playact
			perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
		Category Tree: make; create ╚re-create ╚perform ╚act, play, roleplay, playact
	17	play
			pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
		Category Tree: dissemble; pretend; act ╚simulate; assume; sham; feign ╚play
	18	play, spiel
			replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
		Category Tree: make; create ╚re-create ╚play, spiel ╚bang out ╚slur ╚reprise; reprize; repeat; recapitulate ╚bugle ╚rag ╚jazz ╚prelude ╚replay ╚fiddle ╚misplay ╚riff
	19	play
			play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
		Category Tree: make; create ╚re-create ╚perform ╚play ╚bow ╚play along; accompany; follow ╚symphonize; symphonise ╚swing ╚sound off; strike up
	20	play
			perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
		Category Tree: sound ╚play ╚fiddle ╚harp ╚drum ╚pipe ╚chord ╚tweedle ╚beat ╚skirl ╚register
	21	play
			move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"
		Category Tree: travel; go; move; locomote ╚play
	22	play
			cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
		Category Tree: move; displace ╚play
	23	play
			act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"
		Category Tree: act; move ╚play
	24	play, recreate
			engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"

	25	play
			be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
		Category Tree: act ╚play ╚dabble; paddle; splash around ╚frolic; lark; rollick; skylark; disport; sport; cavort; gambol; frisk; romp; run around; lark about ╚horse around; arse around; fool around; fool
	26	dally, toy, play, flirt
			behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection"
		Category Tree: act; move ╚dally, toy, play, flirt
	27	play
			behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
		Category Tree: act; move ╚play
	28	play
			be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way; "This speech didn't play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"

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Forum discussions with the word(s) 'play' in the title:

cake/play
roleplay? role play? role-play?
Go, play, or do a sport?
Play/go/do?
Actor In A Play
I did/was doing everything except play/playing..."
to play knights
Play it by ear
play to / play at / play with... a playstation ?
How long are you going to play this game ?
End Play
meaning of "play"
play it as it lays
Play safe
I <would, used to> play tennis a long time ago.
play in?
When I was ten years old I <would, used to> play football every day.
play a guitar
to play something by ear
Vocabulary: "play back"= "rewind" ???
play a good fiddle
To play dirty pool - Idiom
I <don't play, haven't played> soccer since I broke my leg.
to play in mind
All theoretical aspects are internalized by practical exercises and role-play
Why do we recite at a play and play at a recital?
Play in a series of commercials
My amusement was to play at the park
Play bowling
"to play gooseberry"
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