play (pl?)v. played, play·ing, plays v.intr.1. To occupy oneself in an activity for amusement or recreation: children playing with toys.2. a. To take part in a sport or game: He’s just a beginner and doesn’t play well.b. To participate in betting; gamble.3. a. To behave in a teasing or joking manner; act in jest or sport: She’s not angry with you; she’s just playing.b. To deal or behave carelessly or indifferently, especially for one’s own amusement; toy: She isn’t interested in you; she’s just playing with you.4. To act or conduct oneself in a specified way: play fair; an investor who plays cautiously.5. To act, especially in a dramatic production.6. Music a. To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.b. To emit sound or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.7. To be performed, as in a theater or on television: A good movie is playing tonight.8. To be received or accepted: a speech that played poorly with the voters.9. To move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly: The breeze played on the water.10. To function or discharge uninterruptedly: The fountains played in the courtyard.11. To move or operate freely within a bounded space, as machine parts do.v.tr.1. a. To engage in (a game or sport): play hockey; play chess.b. To compete against in a game or sport: We play the Tigers today.c. To compete in a game or sport at (a location): The New York Yankees played Fenway Park last night.d. To occupy or work at (a position) in a game: Lou Gehrig played first base.e. To put (a player) at a position in a sport or in a game: Let’s play her at first base.f. To use or move (a card or piece) in a game: play the ace of clubsg. To hit (a ball, shot, or stroke), as in tennis: played a strong backhand.h. To attempt to keep or gain possession or control of: No foul was called because he was playing the ball.2. a. To perform or act (a role or part) in a dramatic performance.b. To assume the role of; act as: played the peacemaker at the meeting.c. To pretend to be; mimic the activities of: played cowboy; played the star.3. a. To perform (a theatrical work or part of a work): The actors played the scene with great skill.b. To present a theatrical performance or other entertainment in (a given place): The company played Boston last week.4. a. To bet; wager: played ten dollars on the horse.b. To make bets on: play the races.5. a. To perform or put into effect, especially as a jest or deception: play a joke on a friend.b. To handle; manage: played the matter quietly.c. To use or manipulate, especially for one’s own interests: played his opponents against each other.6. Music a. To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.b. To perform (a piece) on instruments or an instrument.7. To cause (a movie, audiotape, or other recording) to be presented in audible or visible form.8. To discharge or direct in a certain direction: played the water on the burning roof.9. To cause to move rapidly, lightly, or irregularly: play lights over the dance floor.10. To exhaust (a hooked fish) by allowing it to pull on the line.n.1. a. A literary work written for performance on the stage; a drama.b. The performance of such a work.2. Activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation.3. Fun or jesting: It was all done in play.4. a. The act or manner of engaging in a game or sport: After a time-out, play resumed. The golf tournament featured expert play.b. The act or manner of using a card, piece, or ball in a game or sport: my partner’s play of the last trump; his clumsy play of the rebound.c. A move or an action in a game: It’s your play. The runner was thrown out in a close play.5. Participation in betting; gambling.6. Manner of dealing with others; conduct: fair play.7. An attempt to obtain something; a bid: a play for sympathy.8. a. Action, motion, or use: the play of the imagination.b. Freedom or occasion for action; scope: give full play to an artist’s talents.9. Movement or space for movement, as of mechanical parts.10. Quick, often irregular movement or action, especially of light or color: the play of color on iridescent feathers.11. A control mechanism on an audio or video player that starts or resumes the audible or visual presentation of a recording.12. A geological deposit, as of oil or natural gas, considered as a prospect for commercial extraction.Phrasal Verbs: play along Informal To cooperate or pretend to cooperate: decided to play along with the robbers for a while. play around To philander. play at1. To participate in; engage in.2. To do or take part in halfheartedly. play back To replay (a recently recorded tape, for example). play down To minimize the importance of; make little of: played down the defect to protect the troops’ morale. play off1. Sports a. To establish the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.b. To participate in a playoff.2. To set (one individual or party) in opposition to another so as to advance one’s own interests: a parent who played off one child against another. play on (or upon) To take advantage of (another’s attitudes or feelings) for one’s own interests: demagogues who play on popular fears. play out To use up; exhaust: Our strength was played out early in the contest. play up To emphasize or publicize: She played up her experience during the job interview.Idioms: in play1. Sports In a position to be legally or feasibly played: The ball is now in play.2. In a position, or rumored to be in a position of possible corporate takeover: The company’s stock rose in price when it was said to be in play. out of play Sports Not in a position to be legally or feasibly played. play ball Slang To cooperate: The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us. play both ends against the middle To set opposing parties or interests against one another so as to advance one’s own goals. play fast and loose To behave in a recklessly irresponsible or deceitful manner: played fast and loose with the facts. play for time To use delaying tactics; temporize. play games Slang To be evasive or deceptive: Quit playing games and tell me what you want. play hard to get To pretend to be uninterested in a romantic relationship. play in Peoria Slang To be acceptable to average constituents or consumers. play into (someone’s) hands To act or behave so as to give an advantage to an opponent. play it by ear To act according to the circumstances; improvise: I don’t have a set schedule, so we’ll have to play it by ear. play (one’s) cards Informal To use the resources or strategies at one’s disposal: played her cards right and got promoted. play possum To pretend to be sleeping or dead. play the field To date more than one person at the same time. play the game Informal To behave according to the accepted customs or standards. play up to To curry favor with. play with a full deck Slang To be of sound mind: didn’t seem to be playing with a full deck. play with fire To take part in a dangerous or risky undertaking. play with (oneself) Vulgar Slang To masturbate.[Middle English playen, from Old English plegian; see dlegh- in Indo-European roots.]play?a·bil?i·ty n.play?a·ble adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.play (ple?) vb1. to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)2. (General Sporting Terms) (tr) to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or game: Ed played Tony at chess and lost. 3. (General Sporting Terms) to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team game: he plays defence; he plays in the defence. 4. (General Sporting Terms) (tr) to address oneself to (a ball) in a game: play the ball not the man. 5. (intr; often foll by about or around) to behave carelessly, esp in a way that is unconsciously cruel or hurtful; trifle or dally (with): to play about with a young girl’s affections. 6. (Film) (when: intr, often foll by at) to perform or act the part (of) in or as in a dramatic production; assume or simulate the role (of): to play the villain; just what are you playing at?. 7. (Film) to act out or perform (a dramatic production)8. (Theatre) to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place9. (intr) to be received: How will these policies play in Middle England?. 10. (Music, other) to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument): David plays the harp. 11. (Music, other) to perform (on a musical instrument) as specified: he plays out of tune. 12. (Music, other) (tr) a. to reproduce (a tune, melody, piece of music, note, etc) on an instrumentb. to perform works by (a specific composer): to play Brahms. 13. to discharge or cause to discharge: he played the water from the hose onto the garden. 14. to operate, esp to cause (a record player, radio, etc) to emit sound or (of a record player, radio, etc) to emit (sound): he played a record; the radio was playing loudly. 15. to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularly: lights played on the scenery. 16. (Stock Exchange) (tr) stock exchange to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)17. (Angling) (tr) angling to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod’s flexibility18. to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play19. (Gambling, except Cards) to gamble (money) on a game20. play ball informal to cooperate21. play fair play fair with someone to prove oneself fair in one’s dealings22. play false play fair with someone to prove oneself unfair in one’s dealings23. play by ear See ear11924. play for time to delay the outcome of some activity so as to gain time to one’s own advantage25. play into the hands of to act directly to the advantage of (an opponent)26. play the fool See fool1727. play the game See game122n28. (Theatre) a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama29. (Theatre) a. the performance of a dramatic compositionb. (in combination): playreader. 30. a. games, exercise, or other activity undertaken for pleasure, diversion, etc, esp by childrenb. (in combination): playroom. c. (as modifier): play area. 31. manner of action, conduct, or playing: fair play. 32. the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progress: rain stopped play. 33. (General Sporting Terms) US and Canadian a move or manoeuvre in a game: a brilliant play. 34. (General Sporting Terms) the situation of a ball that is within the defined area and being played according to the rules (in the phrases in play, out of play)35. a turn to play: it’s my play. 36. (Gambling, except Cards) the act of playing for stakes; gambling37. action, activity, or operation: the play of the imagination. 38. freedom of or scope or space for movement: too much play in the rope. 39. light, free, or rapidly shifting motion: the play of light on the water. 40. fun, jest, or joking: I only did it in play. 41. call into play to bring into operation42. make a play for informal a. to make an obvious attempt to gainb. to attempt to attract or seduce[Old English plega (n), plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch pleyen] ?playa?bility n ?playable adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014play (ple?) n. 1. a dramatic composition; drama. 2. a dramatic performance, as on the stage. 3. activity, often spontaneous, engaged in for recreation, as by children. 4. fun or jest, as opposed to earnest: I said it merely in play. 5. a pun. 6. the action or conduct of a game: the fourth inning of play. 7. an act or instance of playing: a play that cost us the match. 8. manner or style of playing. 9. one’s turn to play. 10. a playing for stakes; gambling. 11. an often crafty maneuver: a takeover play. 12. an enterprise; venture. 13. action of a specified kind: foul play. 14. action, activity, or operation: the play of fancy. 15. brisk, light, or changing movement or action: the play of a fountain. 16. elusive change: the play of a searchlight against the night sky. 17. a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move. 18. freedom of movement within a space. 19. freedom or scope for activity: full play of the mind. 20. attention; coverage: The scandal got a big play in the papers. 21. an act or instance of being broadcast. v.t. 22. to portray; enact: to play Macbeth. 23. to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.). 24. to act the part or character of in real life: to play the fool; to play God. 25. to act or sustain (a part): Economics played a part in the decision. 26. to give performances in: to play the big cities. 27. to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.). 28. to contend against in a game. 29. to perform in (a specified position or role) in a game or competition: to play center field. 30. to employ in a game: I played my highest card. 31. to use as if in playing a game, esp. for one’s own advantage: He played his brothers against each other. 32. to stake or wager, as in a game. 33. to lay a wager or wagers on (something). 34. to represent or imitate, as for recreation: to play cowboys and Indians. 35. to perform or be able to perform on (a musical instrument). 36. to perform (music) on an instrument. 37. to perform the music of (a composer). 38. to cause to produce sound or pictures: played the VCR. 39. to perform or carry out, esp. as a sly or deceitful action: to play tricks. 40. to put into operation; act upon: to play a hunch. 41. to cause to move or change lightly or quickly: to play lights on a fountain. 42. to operate or cause to operate, esp. continuously or with repeated action: to play a hose on a fire. 43. to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line. 44. to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), esp. prominently: Play the flood photos on page one. 45. to exploit or trade in: to play the stock market. v.i. 46. to occupy oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation. 47. to do something that is not to be taken seriously; sport. 48. to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often fol. by with). 49. to take part in a game. 50. to take part in a game for stakes; gamble. 51. to conduct oneself or act in a specified way: to play fair. 52. to act on or as if on the stage; perform. 53. to perform on a musical instrument. 54. (of an instrument or music) to sound in performance. 55. to give forth sound: The radio played all night. 56. to be performed or shown: What’s playing at the theater? 57. to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a dramatic script. 58. to be received; go over: How will the proposal play with the public? 59. to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism. 60. to move about lightly, quickly, or irregularly: A smile played about her lips. 61. to operate continuously or with repeated action. 62. to comply; cooperate. 63. play along, a. to cooperate or concur. b. to pretend to cooperate or concur. 64. play around, a. to behave in a playful or frivolous manner. b. to have promiscuous or adulterous sexual relations. 65. play at, a. to pretend to do or be. b. to do without seriousness. 66. play down, to treat as of little importance; minimize. 67. play off, a. to play an extra game or round in order to settle a tie. b. to set (one person or thing) against another, usu. for one’s own gain or advantage. 68. play on or upon, to exploit the weaknesses of; take advantage of: played on his generosity. 69. play up, to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize. 70. play up to, to attempt to please or impress in order to gain the favor of. Idioms: 1. bring into play, to cause to be introduced, considered, or used. 2. make a play for, to employ stratagems to attract or gain. 3. play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself. 4. play fast and loose with, to behave cavalierly toward; deal irresponsibly with. 5. play for time, to forestall an event or decision. 6. play into the hands of, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, esp. an opponent). Also, play into (someone’s) hands. 7. play one’s cards right or well, to maneuver skillfully. 8. play the field, to date a number of persons during the same period of time. 9. play with a full deck, Slang. to be sane (used esp. in the negative). 10. play with oneself, to masturbate. [before 900; (n.) Middle English pleye, Old English plega; (v.) Middle English pleyen, Old English pleg(i)an, c. Middle Dutch pleien to leap for joy, dance, rejoice)] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.play1. children’s gamesWhen children play, they spend time amusing themselves with toys or taking part in games.If you play a sport or game, you take part in it regularly.If someone plays in a game, match, or competition, they take part in it on a particular occasion.If you play something such as a CD or DVD, you put it in a piece of equipment and listen to it.Don’t say that someone ‘plays’ a film or a television programme. Say that they show it.If you play a musical instrument, you produce music from it.If you want to say that someone is able to play a particular instrument, you can use play with or without the. For example, you say ‘She plays the piano’ or ‘She plays piano’.
Theatre play
play (pl?)v. played, play·ing, plays v.intr.1. To occupy oneself in an activity for amusement or recreation: children playing with toys.2. a. To take part in a sport or game: He’s just a beginner and doesn’t play well.b. To participate in betting; gamble.3. a. To behave in a teasing or joking manner; act in jest or sport: She’s not angry with you; she’s just playing.b. To deal or behave carelessly or indifferently, especially for one’s own amusement; toy: She isn’t interested in you; she’s just playing with you.4. To act or conduct oneself in a specified way: play fair; an investor who plays cautiously.5. To act, especially in a dramatic production.6. Music a. To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.b. To emit sound or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.7. To be performed, as in a theater or on television: A good movie is playing tonight.8. To be received or accepted: a speech that played poorly with the voters.9. To move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly: The breeze played on the water.10. To function or discharge uninterruptedly: The fountains played in the courtyard.11. To move or operate freely within a bounded space, as machine parts do.v.tr.1. a. To engage in (a game or sport): play hockey; play chess.b. To compete against in a game or sport: We play the Tigers today.c. To compete in a game or sport at (a location): The New York Yankees played Fenway Park last night.d. To occupy or work at (a position) in a game: Lou Gehrig played first base.e. To put (a player) at a position in a sport or in a game: Let’s play her at first base.f. To use or move (a card or piece) in a game: play the ace of clubsg. To hit (a ball, shot, or stroke), as in tennis: played a strong backhand.h. To attempt to keep or gain possession or control of: No foul was called because he was playing the ball.2. a. To perform or act (a role or part) in a dramatic performance.b. To assume the role of; act as: played the peacemaker at the meeting.c. To pretend to be; mimic the activities of: played cowboy; played the star.3. a. To perform (a theatrical work or part of a work): The actors played the scene with great skill.b. To present a theatrical performance or other entertainment in (a given place): The company played Boston last week.4. a. To bet; wager: played ten dollars on the horse.b. To make bets on: play the races.5. a. To perform or put into effect, especially as a jest or deception: play a joke on a friend.b. To handle; manage: played the matter quietly.c. To use or manipulate, especially for one’s own interests: played his opponents against each other.6. Music a. To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.b. To perform (a piece) on instruments or an instrument.7. To cause (a movie, audiotape, or other recording) to be presented in audible or visible form.8. To discharge or direct in a certain direction: played the water on the burning roof.9. To cause to move rapidly, lightly, or irregularly: play lights over the dance floor.10. To exhaust (a hooked fish) by allowing it to pull on the line.n.1. a. A literary work written for performance on the stage; a drama.b. The performance of such a work.2. Activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation.3. Fun or jesting: It was all done in play.4. a. The act or manner of engaging in a game or sport: After a time-out, play resumed. The golf tournament featured expert play.b. The act or manner of using a card, piece, or ball in a game or sport: my partner’s play of the last trump; his clumsy play of the rebound.c. A move or an action in a game: It’s your play. The runner was thrown out in a close play.5. Participation in betting; gambling.6. Manner of dealing with others; conduct: fair play.7. An attempt to obtain something; a bid: a play for sympathy.8. a. Action, motion, or use: the play of the imagination.b. Freedom or occasion for action; scope: give full play to an artist’s talents.9. Movement or space for movement, as of mechanical parts.10. Quick, often irregular movement or action, especially of light or color: the play of color on iridescent feathers.11. A control mechanism on an audio or video player that starts or resumes the audible or visual presentation of a recording.12. A geological deposit, as of oil or natural gas, considered as a prospect for commercial extraction.Phrasal Verbs: play along Informal To cooperate or pretend to cooperate: decided to play along with the robbers for a while. play around To philander. play at1. To participate in; engage in.2. To do or take part in halfheartedly. play back To replay (a recently recorded tape, for example). play down To minimize the importance of; make little of: played down the defect to protect the troops’ morale. play off1. Sports a. To establish the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.b. To participate in a playoff.2. To set (one individual or party) in opposition to another so as to advance one’s own interests: a parent who played off one child against another. play on (or upon) To take advantage of (another’s attitudes or feelings) for one’s own interests: demagogues who play on popular fears. play out To use up; exhaust: Our strength was played out early in the contest. play up To emphasize or publicize: She played up her experience during the job interview.Idioms: in play1. Sports In a position to be legally or feasibly played: The ball is now in play.2. In a position, or rumored to be in a position of possible corporate takeover: The company’s stock rose in price when it was said to be in play. out of play Sports Not in a position to be legally or feasibly played. play ball Slang To cooperate: The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us. play both ends against the middle To set opposing parties or interests against one another so as to advance one’s own goals. play fast and loose To behave in a recklessly irresponsible or deceitful manner: played fast and loose with the facts. play for time To use delaying tactics; temporize. play games Slang To be evasive or deceptive: Quit playing games and tell me what you want. play hard to get To pretend to be uninterested in a romantic relationship. play in Peoria Slang To be acceptable to average constituents or consumers. play into (someone’s) hands To act or behave so as to give an advantage to an opponent. play it by ear To act according to the circumstances; improvise: I don’t have a set schedule, so we’ll have to play it by ear. play (one’s) cards Informal To use the resources or strategies at one’s disposal: played her cards right and got promoted. play possum To pretend to be sleeping or dead. play the field To date more than one person at the same time. play the game Informal To behave according to the accepted customs or standards. play up to To curry favor with. play with a full deck Slang To be of sound mind: didn’t seem to be playing with a full deck. play with fire To take part in a dangerous or risky undertaking. play with (oneself) Vulgar Slang To masturbate.[Middle English playen, from Old English plegian; see dlegh- in Indo-European roots.]play?a·bil?i·ty n.play?a·ble adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.play (ple?) vb1. to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)2. (General Sporting Terms) (tr) to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or game: Ed played Tony at chess and lost. 3. (General Sporting Terms) to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team game: he plays defence; he plays in the defence. 4. (General Sporting Terms) (tr) to address oneself to (a ball) in a game: play the ball not the man. 5. (intr; often foll by about or around) to behave carelessly, esp in a way that is unconsciously cruel or hurtful; trifle or dally (with): to play about with a young girl’s affections. 6. (Film) (when: intr, often foll by at) to perform or act the part (of) in or as in a dramatic production; assume or simulate the role (of): to play the villain; just what are you playing at?. 7. (Film) to act out or perform (a dramatic production)8. (Theatre) to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place9. (intr) to be received: How will these policies play in Middle England?. 10. (Music, other) to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument): David plays the harp. 11. (Music, other) to perform (on a musical instrument) as specified: he plays out of tune. 12. (Music, other) (tr) a. to reproduce (a tune, melody, piece of music, note, etc) on an instrumentb. to perform works by (a specific composer): to play Brahms. 13. to discharge or cause to discharge: he played the water from the hose onto the garden. 14. to operate, esp to cause (a record player, radio, etc) to emit sound or (of a record player, radio, etc) to emit (sound): he played a record; the radio was playing loudly. 15. to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularly: lights played on the scenery. 16. (Stock Exchange) (tr) stock exchange to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)17. (Angling) (tr) angling to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod’s flexibility18. to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play19. (Gambling, except Cards) to gamble (money) on a game20. play ball informal to cooperate21. play fair play fair with someone to prove oneself fair in one’s dealings22. play false play fair with someone to prove oneself unfair in one’s dealings23. play by ear See ear11924. play for time to delay the outcome of some activity so as to gain time to one’s own advantage25. play into the hands of to act directly to the advantage of (an opponent)26. play the fool See fool1727. play the game See game122n28. (Theatre) a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama29. (Theatre) a. the performance of a dramatic compositionb. (in combination): playreader. 30. a. games, exercise, or other activity undertaken for pleasure, diversion, etc, esp by childrenb. (in combination): playroom. c. (as modifier): play area. 31. manner of action, conduct, or playing: fair play. 32. the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progress: rain stopped play. 33. (General Sporting Terms) US and Canadian a move or manoeuvre in a game: a brilliant play. 34. (General Sporting Terms) the situation of a ball that is within the defined area and being played according to the rules (in the phrases in play, out of play)35. a turn to play: it’s my play. 36. (Gambling, except Cards) the act of playing for stakes; gambling37. action, activity, or operation: the play of the imagination. 38. freedom of or scope or space for movement: too much play in the rope. 39. light, free, or rapidly shifting motion: the play of light on the water. 40. fun, jest, or joking: I only did it in play. 41. call into play to bring into operation42. make a play for informal a. to make an obvious attempt to gainb. to attempt to attract or seduce[Old English plega (n), plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch pleyen] ?playa?bility n ?playable adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014play (ple?) n. 1. a dramatic composition; drama. 2. a dramatic performance, as on the stage. 3. activity, often spontaneous, engaged in for recreation, as by children. 4. fun or jest, as opposed to earnest: I said it merely in play. 5. a pun. 6. the action or conduct of a game: the fourth inning of play. 7. an act or instance of playing: a play that cost us the match. 8. manner or style of playing. 9. one’s turn to play. 10. a playing for stakes; gambling. 11. an often crafty maneuver: a takeover play. 12. an enterprise; venture. 13. action of a specified kind: foul play. 14. action, activity, or operation: the play of fancy. 15. brisk, light, or changing movement or action: the play of a fountain. 16. elusive change: the play of a searchlight against the night sky. 17. a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move. 18. freedom of movement within a space. 19. freedom or scope for activity: full play of the mind. 20. attention; coverage: The scandal got a big play in the papers. 21. an act or instance of being broadcast. v.t. 22. to portray; enact: to play Macbeth. 23. to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.). 24. to act the part or character of in real life: to play the fool; to play God. 25. to act or sustain (a part): Economics played a part in the decision. 26. to give performances in: to play the big cities. 27. to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.). 28. to contend against in a game. 29. to perform in (a specified position or role) in a game or competition: to play center field. 30. to employ in a game: I played my highest card. 31. to use as if in playing a game, esp. for one’s own advantage: He played his brothers against each other. 32. to stake or wager, as in a game. 33. to lay a wager or wagers on (something). 34. to represent or imitate, as for recreation: to play cowboys and Indians. 35. to perform or be able to perform on (a musical instrument). 36. to perform (music) on an instrument. 37. to perform the music of (a composer). 38. to cause to produce sound or pictures: played the VCR. 39. to perform or carry out, esp. as a sly or deceitful action: to play tricks. 40. to put into operation; act upon: to play a hunch. 41. to cause to move or change lightly or quickly: to play lights on a fountain. 42. to operate or cause to operate, esp. continuously or with repeated action: to play a hose on a fire. 43. to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line. 44. to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), esp. prominently: Play the flood photos on page one. 45. to exploit or trade in: to play the stock market. v.i. 46. to occupy oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation. 47. to do something that is not to be taken seriously; sport. 48. to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often fol. by with). 49. to take part in a game. 50. to take part in a game for stakes; gamble. 51. to conduct oneself or act in a specified way: to play fair. 52. to act on or as if on the stage; perform. 53. to perform on a musical instrument. 54. (of an instrument or music) to sound in performance. 55. to give forth sound: The radio played all night. 56. to be performed or shown: What’s playing at the theater? 57. to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a dramatic script. 58. to be received; go over: How will the proposal play with the public? 59. to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism. 60. to move about lightly, quickly, or irregularly: A smile played about her lips. 61. to operate continuously or with repeated action. 62. to comply; cooperate. 63. play along, a. to cooperate or concur. b. to pretend to cooperate or concur. 64. play around, a. to behave in a playful or frivolous manner. b. to have promiscuous or adulterous sexual relations. 65. play at, a. to pretend to do or be. b. to do without seriousness. 66. play down, to treat as of little importance; minimize. 67. play off, a. to play an extra game or round in order to settle a tie. b. to set (one person or thing) against another, usu. for one’s own gain or advantage. 68. play on or upon, to exploit the weaknesses of; take advantage of: played on his generosity. 69. play up, to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize. 70. play up to, to attempt to please or impress in order to gain the favor of. Idioms: 1. bring into play, to cause to be introduced, considered, or used. 2. make a play for, to employ stratagems to attract or gain. 3. play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself. 4. play fast and loose with, to behave cavalierly toward; deal irresponsibly with. 5. play for time, to forestall an event or decision. 6. play into the hands of, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, esp. an opponent). Also, play into (someone’s) hands. 7. play one’s cards right or well, to maneuver skillfully. 8. play the field, to date a number of persons during the same period of time. 9. play with a full deck, Slang. to be sane (used esp. in the negative). 10. play with oneself, to masturbate. [before 900; (n.) Middle English pleye, Old English plega; (v.) Middle English pleyen, Old English pleg(i)an, c. Middle Dutch pleien to leap for joy, dance, rejoice)] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.play1. children’s gamesWhen children play, they spend time amusing themselves with toys or taking part in games.If you play a sport or game, you take part in it regularly.If someone plays in a game, match, or competition, they take part in it on a particular occasion.If you play something such as a CD or DVD, you put it in a piece of equipment and listen to it.Don’t say that someone ‘plays’ a film or a television programme. Say that they show it.If you play a musical instrument, you produce music from it.If you want to say that someone is able to play a particular instrument, you can use play with or without the. For example, you say ‘She plays the piano’ or ‘She plays piano’.