play Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
    drama; dramatic play.
    • he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway
  2. noun a theatrical performance of a drama
    • the play lasted two hours
  3. noun a preset plan of action in team sports
    • the coach drew up the plays for her team
  4. noun a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill
    maneuver; manoeuvre.
    • he made a great maneuver
    • the runner was out on a play by the shortstop
  5. noun a state in which action is feasible
    • the ball was still in play
    • insiders said the company's stock was in play
  6. noun utilization or exercise
    • the play of the imagination
  7. noun an attempt to get something
    bid.
    • they made a futile play for power
    • he made a bid to gain attention
  8. noun activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules
    child's play.
    • Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child
  9. noun (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
    playing period; period of play.
    • rain stopped play in the 4th inning
  10. noun the removal of constraints
    free rein.
    • he gave free rein to his impulses
    • they gave full play to the artist's talent
  11. noun a weak and tremulous light
    shimmer.
    • the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers
    • the play of light on the water
  12. noun verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)
    fun; sport.
    • he became a figure of fun
    • he said it in sport
  13. noun movement or space for movement
    looseness.
    • there was too much play in the steering wheel
  14. noun gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement
    caper; frolic; gambol; romp.
    • it was all done in play
    • their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly
  15. noun (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
    turn.
    • it is my turn
    • it is still my play
  16. noun the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
    gambling; gaming.
    • his gambling cost him a fortune
    • there was heavy play at the blackjack table
  17. noun the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
    swordplay.
  18. verb participate in games or sport
    • We played hockey all afternoon
    • play cards
    • Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches
  19. verb 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
  20. verb play on an instrument
    • The band played all night long
  21. verb play a role or part
    represent; act.
    • 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
  22. verb 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
  23. verb replay (as a melody)
    spiel.
    • Play it again, Sam
    • She played the third movement very beautifully
  24. verb perform music on (a musical instrument)
    • He plays the flute
    • Can you play on this old recorder?
  25. verb pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
    act as; act.
    • He acted the idiot
    • She plays deaf when the news are bad
  26. verb move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly
    • The spotlights played on the politicians
  27. verb bet or wager (money)
    • He played $20 on the new horse
    • She plays the races
  28. verb engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion
    recreate.
    • On weekends I play
    • The students all recreate alike
  29. verb pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity
    • Let's play like I am mommy
    • Play cowboy and Indians
  30. verb emit recorded sound
    • The tape was playing for hours
    • the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered
  31. verb perform on a certain location
    • The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16
    • She has been playing on Broadway for years
  32. verb 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
  33. verb engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously
    toy.
    • They played games on their opponents
    • play the stock market
    • play with her feelings
    • toy with an idea
  34. verb behave in a certain way
    • play safe
    • play it safe
    • play fair
  35. verb cause to emit recorded audio or video
    run.
    • They ran the tapes over and over again
    • I'll play you my favorite record
    • He never tires of playing that video
  36. verb manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination
    diddle; toy; fiddle.
    • She played nervously with her wedding ring
    • Don't fiddle with the screws
    • He played with the idea of running for the Senate
  37. verb use to one's advantage
    • She plays on her clients' emotions
  38. verb consider not very seriously
    trifle; dally.
    • He is trifling with her
    • She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania
  39. verb 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
  40. verb behave carelessly or indifferently
    flirt; toy; dally.
    • Play about with a young girl's affection
  41. verb cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space
    • The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack
  42. verb perform on a stage or theater
    playact; roleplay; act.
    • She acts in this play
    • He acted in `Julius Caesar'
    • I played in `A Christmas Carol'
  43. verb be performed or presented for public viewing
    • What's playing in the local movie theater?
    • `Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years
  44. verb cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
    bring; work; wreak; make for.
    • I cannot work a miracle
    • wreak havoc
    • bring comments
    • play a joke
    • The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
  45. verb discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream
    • play water from a hose
    • The fountains played all day
  46. verb make bets
    • Play the races
    • play the casinos in Trouville
  47. verb stake on the outcome of an issue
    wager; bet.
    • I bet $100 on that new horse
    • She played all her money on the dark horse
  48. verb shoot or hit in a particular manner
    • She played a good backhand last night
  49. verb use or move
    • I had to play my queen
  50. verb employ in a game or in a specific position
    • They played him on first base
  51. verb contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
    take on; meet; encounter.
    • Princeton plays Yale this weekend
    • Charlie likes to play Mary
  52. verb exhaust by allowing to pull on the line
    • play a hooked fish

WordNet

Play intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. pleien, AS. plegian, plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G. pflegen; of unknown origin. Cf. Plight, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Played ; present participle & verbal noun Playing
Definitions
  1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
    As Cannace was playing in her walk. Chaucer.
    The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play! Pope.
    And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword. Keble.
  2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.
    "Nay," quod this monk, "I have no lust to pleye." Chaucer.
    Men are apt to play with their healths. Sir W. Temple.
  3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.
  4. To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.
    One that . . . can play well on an instrument. Ezek. xxxiii. 32.
    Play, my friend, and charm the charmer. Granville.
  5. To act; to behave; to practice deception.
    His mother played false with a smith. Shak.
  6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.
    The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play. Cheyne.
  7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.
    Even as the waving sedges play with wind. Shak.
    The setting sun Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets. Addison.
    All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart. Pope.
  8. To act on the stage; to personate a character.
    A lord will hear your play to-night. Shak.
    Courts are theaters where some men play. Donne.
    play around
Play transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.
    First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul. Herbert.
  2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.
  3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.
  4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.
    Nature here Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will Her virgin fancies. Milton.
  5. To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman.
    Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt. Sir W. Scott.
  6. To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball.
  7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
Play noun
Definitions
  1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.
  2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.
    John naturally loved rough play. Arbuthnot.
  3. The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play.
  4. Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit. "The next who comes in play." Dryden.
  5. A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.
    A play ought to be a just image of human nature. Dryden.
  6. The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.
  7. Performance on an instrument of music.
  8. Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action. "To give them play, front and rear." Milton.
    The joints are let exactly into one another, that they have no play between them. Moxon.
  9. Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth. in play. (a) (baseball, football) [of a ball] to still be subject to action so as to affect the game, true as long as the specific play has not been completed. Opposite of out of play, out of bounds. (b) (Corporate Finance) subject to acquisition or merger; said of companies which have been discussed as potential acquisitions by potentially acquiring companies.
    I, with two more to help me, Will hold the foe in play. Macaulay.

Webster 1913