play

/plˈeɪ/

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Definitions

Noun
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
Noun
a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
Noun
a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
Noun
a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
Noun
a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company''s stock was in play"
Noun
utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"
Noun
an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"
Noun
activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
Noun
(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
Noun
the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist''s talent"
Noun
a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
Noun
verbal wit or mockery (often at another''s expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport"
Noun
movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"
Noun
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"
Noun
(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
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); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table"
Noun
the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
Verb
participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
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"
Verb
play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
Verb
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"
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"
Verb
replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
Verb
perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
Verb
pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
Verb
move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"
Verb
bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
Verb
engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
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"
Verb
emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
Verb
perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
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"
Verb
engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"
Verb
behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
Verb
cause to emit recorded audio or video; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "I''ll play you my favorite record"; "He never tires of playing that video"
Verb
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"
Verb
use to one''s advantage; "She plays on her clients'' emotions"
Verb
consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
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"
Verb
behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl''s affection"
Verb
cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
Verb
perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar''"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol''"
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"
Verb
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"
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"
Verb
make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
Verb
stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"
Verb
shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
Verb
use or move; "I had to play my queen"
Verb
employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
Verb
contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"
Verb
exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"
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More Specific Terms

accompany ace act out arse around assist at-bat attack back backstop ball hawking bandy bang out baseball play basketball play bat beat bet bet on bid blitz bow bowl bugle bully off busk call catch cavort chord clarion clowning comedy complete completion confront coquetry cover cradle craziness cricket croquet curl curtain raiser dabble dalliance debut declare develop die disport doctor down drollery drum emote enact exit face face off fencing fiddle field figure fireman flirt flirtation flirting follow folly fool fool around foolery football play footwork foul frisk frolic fullback fumble funniness gage gamble gambling game gambol game game of chance golf golf hole Grand Guignol ham ham it up harp hole hook horse around horseplay house icing icing the puck impersonate indulgence innings jazz jocosity jocularity jugglery knock on lark lark about lead line up linebacker blitzing lunacy make make believe mime miracle play misplay modulate morality play mousetrap move musical musical comedy musical theater mystery play nail obstruction overact overplay paddle pantomime parody paronomasia pass completion Passion play pipe pitch play play along play out playlet portray power play prelude pretend promote pun punning punt put out putt quarterback rag raise razmataz razzle razzle-dazzle razzmatazz recapitulate reenact register repeat replay reprise reprize retire revoke riff rollick romp roughhouse ruff run around safety blitz satyr play see seesaw set shot skirl skylark slack slackness slur snooker sound off splash around sport sporting life stake start starting stooge strike up stroke support swing symphonise symphonize takeaway teasing tee off teetertotter teeter-totter theater of the absurd throw tomfoolery tongue toying trap play trick trumpet trumping tweedle unblock underact underplay volley wager waggery waggishness walk wiggliness word play wordplay
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