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
- 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 into the hands of
- 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
Alternative Forms
ˌplayaˈbility noun ˈplayable adjectiveWord 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
"The play's the thingWherein I'll catch the conscience of the king"
"Play it Sam. Play `As Time Goes By'"
Translations
- 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 My uncle wrote a play about his father.
- Spanish:
juego
nm
- French:
pièce
nf
- German:
Theaterstück
nnt
- Chinese: 游戏 n
- Arabic: مَسْرَحِيَّة n
- Portuguese: peça teatral nf
- Russian: игра nf
- Croatian: igra nf
- Czech: hra nf
- Danish: leg nutr
- Dutch: spel nnt
- Finnish: näytelmä n
- Greek: θεατρικό έργο nnt
- Italian: gioco nm
- Japanese: 劇 n
- Korean: 연극 n
- Norwegian: skuespill nm
- Polish: gra nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: peça teatral nf
- European Spanish:
juego
nm
- Swedish: pjäs nutr
- Thai: การแสดง n
- Turkish: oyun n
- Vietnamese: vở kịch n
- British English:
play
When children play, they spend time using toys and taking part in games.She was playing with her dolls.pleɪ VERB She was playing with her dolls.
- Spanish:
jugar
v
- French:
jouer
vi
- German:
spielen
v
- Chinese: 进行比赛 vt
- Arabic: يَلْعَب vt
- Portuguese: jogar vt
- Russian: играть vi
- Croatian: igrati v
- Czech: hrát vt
- Danish: spille v
- Dutch: spelen vt
- Finnish: pelata v
- Greek: παίζω v
- Italian: giocare v
- Japanese: 競技を行う v
- Korean: 시합을 하다 vt
- Norwegian: spille v
- Polish: zagrać v grać
- Brazilian Portuguese: brincar vt
- European Spanish:
jugar
v
- Swedish: spela vt
- Thai: เล่น vt
- Turkish: oynamak vt
- Vietnamese: chơi v
- British English:
play
If you play an instrument, you make music with it.pleɪ VERB
- Spanish:
tocar
v
- French:
jouer
vi
- German:
spielen
v
- Chinese: 演奏 v
- Arabic: يَعْزِف vt
- Portuguese: tocar v
- Russian: играть vt
- Croatian: svirati v
- Czech: hrát vt
- Danish: spille v
- Dutch: spelen vt
- Finnish: soittaa v
- Greek: παίζω v
- Italian: suonare v
- Japanese: 演奏する v
- Korean: 연주를 하다 vt
- Norwegian: spille v
- Polish: zagrać vt grać
- Brazilian Portuguese: tocar v
- European Spanish:
tocar
v
- Swedish: spela vt
- Thai: เล่นดนตรี
- Turkish: çalmak vt
- Vietnamese: chơi v
Usage examples
Just think, you could have been called...' He flipped open the play to the cast list: `... Sergius!
, CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)Mr Clover wants to find an answer to the devastation and to enable his reader to play a real part in delivering that solution.
Country Life (2004)There is no European army, but even if there were, Ireland would be under no obligation to play any part in it.
Irish Times (2002)The pipes and drums of Strathclyde police will play the coffin out of the cathedral.
Glasgow Herald (2001)And afterwards, the parents, they wouldn't let their children play with me.
, BEYOND FEAR (2002)