Word Frequency
play (pleɪ
)
Definitions
verb
- to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)
- tr to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or game ⇒
Ed played Tony at chess and lost
- to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team game ⇒
he plays defence
,he plays in the defence
- tr to address oneself to (a ball) in a game ⇒
play the ball not the man
- 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
- 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?
- to act out or perform (a dramatic production)
- to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place
- intr to be received ⇒
How will these policies play in Middle England?
- to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument) ⇒
David plays the harp
- to perform (on a musical instrument) as specified ⇒
he plays out of tune
- tr
- to reproduce (a tune, melody, piece of music, note, etc) on an instrument
- to perform works by (a specific composer) ⇒
to play Brahms
- to discharge or cause to discharge ⇒
he played the water from the hose onto the garden
- 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
- to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularly ⇒
lights played on the scenery
- tr (stock exchange) to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)
- tr (angling) to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod's flexibility
- to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play
- to gamble (money) on a game
-
See play ball
-
See play fair
-
See play false
-
See play by ear
-
See play for time
-
See play the fool
-
See play the game
noun
- a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama
-
- the performance of a dramatic composition
- (in combination) ⇒
playreader
-
- games, exercise, or other activity undertaken for pleasure, diversion, etc, esp by children
- (in combination) ⇒
playroom
- (as modifier) ⇒
play dough
- manner of action, conduct, or playing ⇒
fair play
- the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progress ⇒
rain stopped play
- (US & Canadian) a move or manoeuvre in a game ⇒
a brilliant play
- 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)
- a turn to play ⇒
it's my play
- the act of playing for stakes; gambling
- action, activity, or operation ⇒
the play of the imagination
- freedom of or scope or space for movement ⇒
too much play in the rope
- light, free, or rapidly shifting motion ⇒
the play of light on the water
- fun, jest, or joking ⇒
I only did it in play
-
See call into play
-
See make a play for
Derived Forms
ˌplayaˈbility nounˈplayable adjective
Word Origin
Old English plega (n), plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch pleyenSynonyms
View thesaurus entry = amuse yourself, have fun, frolic, sport, fool, romp, revel, trifle, caper, frisk, gambol, entertain yourself, engage in games
= amusement, pleasure, leisure, games, sport, fun, entertainment, relaxation, a good time, recreation, enjoyment, romping, larks, capering, frolicking, junketing, fun and games, revelry, skylarking, living it up, gambolling, horseplay, merrymaking, me-time
= drama, show, performance, piece, comedy, entertainment, tragedy, farce, soap opera, soapie or soapy, pantomime, stage show, television drama, radio play, masque, dramatic piece
Quotations including 'play'
"The play's the thingWherein I'll catch the conscience of the king"
"Play it Sam. Play `As Time Goes By'"
Translations for 'play'
- British English: play A play is a piece of writing performed in a theatre, on the radio, or on television.My uncle wrote a play about his father.pleɪ NOUN
- Arabic: مَسْرَحِيَّة
- Brazilian Portuguese: peça teatral
- Chinese: 游戏
- Croatian: drama
- Czech: hradivadelní
- Danish: skuespil
- Dutch: toneelstuk
- European Spanish: obrarecreación
- Finnish: näytelmä
- French: piècethéâtre
- German: Theaterstück
- Greek: θεατρικό έργο
- Italian: spettacolo teatrale
- Japanese: 劇
- Korean: 연극
- Norwegian: skuespill
- Polish: grasztuka
- Portuguese: peça teatral
- Romanian: piesă de teatru piese de teatru
- Russian: игра
- Spanish: obraejercicio recreativo
- Swedish: pjäs
- Thai: บทละคร
- Turkish: oyun
- Ukrainian: п'єса
- Vietnamese: vở kịch
- British English: play When children play, they spend time using toys and taking part in games.She was playing with her dolls.pleɪ VERBchildren
- Arabic: يَلْعَب
- Brazilian Portuguese: brincar
- Chinese: 进行比赛
- Croatian: igrati se
- Czech: hrát siděti
- Danish: lege legewith toys
- Dutch: spelenin sport
- European Spanish: jugarrecreación
- Finnish: pelata
- French: jouersport
- German: spielenSport
- Greek: παίζωάθλημα
- Italian: giocare
- Japanese: 競技を行うin sport
- Korean: 놀다
- Norwegian: spille
- Polish: zagrać graćw sporcie
- Portuguese: brincar
- Romanian: a se juca
- Russian: играть
- Spanish: jugar
- Swedish: spela
- Thai: เล่น
- Turkish: oynamak
- Ukrainian: гратися
- Vietnamese: chơi
- British English: play If you play an instrument, you make music with it.pleɪ VERBmusical instrument
- Arabic: يَعْزِف
- Brazilian Portuguese: tocar
- Chinese: 演奏音
- Croatian: svirati
- Czech: hráthudba
- Danish: spillemusik
- Dutch: spelenmuziek
- European Spanish: tocarmúsica
- Finnish: soittaamusiikkia
- French: jouermusique
- German: spielenMusik
- Greek: παίζωμουσική
- Italian: suonare
- Japanese: 演奏するmusic
- Korean: 연주를 하다
- Norwegian: spille
- Polish: zagrać graćmuzyka
- Portuguese: tocar
- Romanian: a cântala un instrument
- Russian: играть
- Spanish: tocarhacer sonar un instrumento
- Swedish: spela
- Thai: เล่นดนตรี
- Turkish: çalmak
- Ukrainian: грати
- Vietnamese: chơi
Example Sentences Including 'play'
Fredrick came from Norway to see Liverpool play Barcelona, a match that ended in a disappointing draw.Irish Times (2002)
He avoided Weber and began to play against himself at chess without, curiously, ever being able to win.THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
I'd rather fight Hythrun bandits than play toy soldiers in Karien.TREASON KEEP (2001)
Impromptu quartets form to run through often obscure pieces, musicians play folk songs from their homelands.Irish Times (2002)
Kingussie are just two points clear of Oban but have two games in hand with five to play.Glasgow Herald (2001)
Not everyone had the advantage of playing Caliban in the school play ,' said Pascoe.CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)
The penultimate line of the play is `It is myself I have never met, whose face is pasted on the underside of my mind.BEYOND FEAR (2002)
The rules state that only players named in a 30-strong squad submitted at the start of the tournament are eligible to play.Glasgow Herald (2001)
The waterworks are turned on only when the garden is open to visitors, and in dry summers the hours they play need to be rationed.Country Life (2004)
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