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Play

//pleɪ// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun

1
Dave & Buster's.
"Dave and Buster’s (PLAY), the popular restaurant and entertainment chain, is getting into the betting business."

Noun

1
Activity for amusement only, especially among the young. uncountable
"Children learn through play."
2
the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully wordnet
3
Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills. uncountable
"This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills."
4
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize) wordnet
5
The conduct, or course, of a game. uncountable
"Play was very slow in the first half."

Show 32 more definitions

6
activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules wordnet
7
The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is available to be played (see also in play, out of play). also, figuratively, uncountable
"In potting the yellow ball, he's knocked the green into play."
8
(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession wordnet
9
An individual's performance in a sport or game. uncountable
"His play has improved a lot this season."
10
gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement wordnet
11
A short sequence of action within a game. countable
"That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward."
12
a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill wordnet
13
A short sequence of action within a game.; An action carried out when it is one's turn to play. countable, uncountable
"AWARD is better than either WARED or WADER. However, there's an even better play! If you have looked at the two-to-make-three letter list, you may have noticed the word AWA."
14
a preset plan of action in team sports wordnet
15
A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue. countable
"This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays."
16
an attempt to get something wordnet
17
A theatrical performance featuring actors. countable
"We saw a two-act play in the theatre."
18
utilization or exercise wordnet
19
An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party. countable
"ABC Widgets makes a play in the bicycle market with its bid to take over Acme Sprockets."
20
movement or space for movement wordnet
21
A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources. countable
22
verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously) wordnet
23
Movement (of a pattern of light etc.) uncountable
"the play of light and shadow across the boy's face"
24
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage wordnet
25
Freedom to move. uncountable
"give play to your imagination"
26
a theatrical performance of a drama wordnet
27
Freedom to move.; The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack. countable, uncountable
"No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it."
28
a weak and tremulous light wordnet
29
Sexual activity or sexual role-playing. informal, uncountable
"petplay"
30
the removal of constraints wordnet
31
An instance of watching or listening to media. countable
"That video of my cat falling off the piano has had ten thousand plays."
32
a state in which action is feasible wordnet
33
An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting. countable, uncountable
"Their single got a play on the radio."
34
(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds wordnet
35
A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played. countable
"press play"
36
An instance of wordplay. countable
"play on words"
37
Activity relating to martial combat or fighting. archaic, countable, in-compounds, uncountable, usually
"handplay, swordplay"

Verb

1
To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. intransitive
"The children played in the park."
2
engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously wordnet
3
To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless. especially, intransitive
"Don't play with your food!"
4
pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind wordnet
5
To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game). intransitive, transitive
"He plays on three teams."

Show 62 more definitions

6
exhaust by allowing to pull on the line wordnet
7
To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).; Specifying a particular sporting role or position. intransitive, transitive
"He plays left back for Mudchester Rovers"
8
consider not very seriously wordnet
9
To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).; To compete against, in a game. intransitive, transitive
"We're playing one of the top teams in the next round."
10
participate in games or sport wordnet
11
To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).; To be the opposing score to. intransitive, transitive
"Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!"
12
contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle wordnet
13
To contend or fight using weapons, both as practice or in real life-or-death combats; to engage in martial games; to joust; to fence intransitive
14
employ in a game or in a specific position wordnet
15
To act or behave in a stated way. copulative, intransitive
"to play safe, to play fair, to play dirty"
16
use or move wordnet
17
To act or behave in a stated way.; To give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be. copulative, intransitive
"He plays dumb, but actually he's very clever."
18
shoot or hit in a particular manner wordnet
19
To act as (the indicated role). transitive
"Stop playing the fool."
20
bet or wager (money) wordnet
21
To act as (the indicated role).; To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre). transitive
"Who played Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind'?"
22
put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game wordnet
23
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To produce music using a musical instrument. especially, intransitive, transitive
"I'll play the piano and you sing."
24
stake on the outcome of an issue wordnet
25
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To produce music. intransitive, transitive
"This piano plays out of tune."
26
make bets wordnet
27
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To operate (a device or media) so as to cause sound (especially music) or moving pictures to be produced. intransitive, transitive
"You can play the DVD now."
28
use to one's advantage wordnet
29
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To render (a musical title, compositional style, film title, etc.) using a musical instrument or device. intransitive, transitive, usually
"Do you know how to play Für Elise on the piano?"
30
discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream wordnet
31
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To emit or relay sound (especially music) or moving pictures; (of a device) to operate media. intransitive, transitive, usually
"The juke box is playing our favourite song."
32
manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination wordnet
33
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To be performed, reproduced, or shown. intransitive, transitive
"His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow."
34
cause to happen or to occur as a consequence wordnet
35
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To perform or give performances in or at (a venue or location). intransitive, transitive, usually
"The band is playing large arenas nationwide."
36
perform on a certain location wordnet
37
To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.; To act or perform (a play). intransitive, transitive
"to play a comedy"
38
be performed or presented for public viewing wordnet
39
To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.; To move in a light or brisk manner. intransitive, transitive
"The fountain plays."
40
cause to emit recorded audio or video wordnet
41
To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.; To move so as to fall upon or sweep across something, or to direct or operate (something) in such a manner. intransitive, transitive
"The torch beam played around the room."
42
emit recorded sound wordnet
43
To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.; To move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro. intransitive, transitive
"the waving sedges play with wind"
44
play a role or part wordnet
45
To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy. transitive
"That was a great shot he played!"
46
perform on a stage or theater wordnet
47
To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way. transitive
"The bank robbers have three hostages inside, so we're going to have to play this very carefully."
48
pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity wordnet
49
To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain. transitive
"He made a fortune on Wall Street, playing the markets."
50
replay (as a melody) wordnet
51
To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down. intransitive
"This policy plays well with younger voters."
52
play on an instrument wordnet
53
To gamble.
"“I play, comparatively, very little; I don't drink a fifth part so much as half the people I live with; and I reckon myself, upon the whole, a very orderly, sober fellow.”"
54
perform music on (a musical instrument) wordnet
55
To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it. transitive
56
move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly wordnet
57
To manipulate, deceive, or swindle. colloquial, transitive
"You played me!"
58
cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space wordnet
59
To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously. intransitive
"They don't play with the rules around here."
60
act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome wordnet
61
To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around. intransitive
"Her proper face I not descerned in that darkesome shade, But weend it was my loue, with whom he playd."
62
engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion wordnet
63
For additional senses in various idiomatic phrases, see the individual entries, such as play along, play at, play down, play off, play on, play out, play to, play up, etc.
64
be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children wordnet
65
behave carelessly or indifferently wordnet
66
behave in a certain way wordnet
67
be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English pleyen, playen, pleȝen, plæien, also Middle English plaȝen, plawen (compare English plaw), from Old English pleġan, pleoġan, plæġan, and Old English plegian, pleagian, plagian (“to play, exercise, etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *plehan (“to care about, be concerned with”) and Proto-West Germanic *plegōn (“to engage, move”), of uncertain origin. cognates and related terms Cognate with Scots play (“to act or move briskly, cause to move, stir”), Saterland Frisian pleegje (“to look after, care for, maintain”), West Frisian pleegje, pliigje (“to commit, perform, bedrive”), Middle Dutch pleyen ("to dance, leap for joy, rejoice, be glad"; compare Modern Dutch pleien (“to play a particular children's game”)), Dutch plegen (“to commit, bedrive, practice”), German pflegen (“to care for, be concerned with, attend to, tend”). Related also to Old English plēon (“to risk, endanger”). More at plight, pledge. The noun is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, plega, plæġa (“play, quick motion, movement, exercise; (athletic) sport, game; festivity, drama; battle; gear for games, an implement for a game; clapping with the hands, applause”), deverbative of plegian (“to play”); see above.

Etymology 2

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