1
play (v.)participate in games or sport;
Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches
We played hockey all afternoon
play (v.)act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome;
This development played into her hands
This factor played only a minor part in his decision
I played no role in your dismissal
play (v.)play on an instrument;
The band played all night long
play (v.)play a role or part;
She played the servant to her husband's master
play (v.)be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children;
I used to play with trucks as a little girl
The kids were playing outside all day
play (v.)replay (as a melody);
She played the third movement very beautifully
play (v.)perform music on (a musical instrument);
Can you play on this old recorder?
play (v.)pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind;
She plays deaf when the news are bad
play (v.)move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly;
The spotlights played on the politicians
play (v.)bet or wager (money);
He played $20 on the new horse
play (v.)engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion;
play (v.)pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity;
Let's play like I am mommy
play (v.)emit recorded sound;
the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered
The tape was playing for hours
play (v.)perform on a certain location;
The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16
She has been playing on Broadway for years
play (v.)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
play (v.)engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously;
They played games on their opponents
play (v.)behave in a certain way;
play (v.)cause to emit recorded audio or video;
He never tires of playing that video
I'll play you my favorite record
play (v.)manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination;
He played with the idea of running for the Senate
She played nervously with her wedding ring
play (v.)use to one's advantage;
She plays on her clients' emotions
play (v.)consider not very seriously;
She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania
play (v.)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
play (v.)behave carelessly or indifferently;
play (v.)cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space;
The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack
play (v.)perform on a stage or theater;
I played in `A Christmas Carol'
play (v.)be performed or presented for public viewing;
`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years
What's playing in the local movie theater?
play (v.)cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
play (v.)discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream;
The fountains played all day
play (v.)make bets;
play the casinos in Trouville
play (v.)stake on the outcome of an issue;
She played all her money on the dark horse
play (v.)shoot or hit in a particular manner;
She played a good backhand last night
play (v.)employ in a game or in a specific position;
They played him on first base
play (v.)contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;
Charlie likes to play Mary
Princeton plays Yale this weekend
play (v.)exhaust by allowing to pull on the line;
2
play (n.)a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage;
he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway
Synonyms: drama /
dramatic play play (n.)a theatrical performance of a drama;
the play lasted two hours
play (n.)a preset plan of action in team sports;
the coach drew up the plays for her team
play (n.)a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill;
the runner was out on a play by the shortstop
play (n.)a state in which action is feasible;
the ball was still in play
insiders said the company's stock was in play
play (n.)utilization or exercise;
the play of the imagination
play (n.)an attempt to get something;
they made a futile play for power
play (n.)activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules;
Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child
Synonyms: child's play
play (n.)(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds;
rain stopped play in the 4th inning
Synonyms: playing period / period of play
play (n.)the removal of constraints;
they gave full play to the artist's talent
Synonyms: free rein
play (n.)a weak and tremulous light;
the play of light on the water
play (n.)verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously);
play (n.)movement or space for movement;
there was too much play in the steering wheel
play (n.)gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement;
play (n.)(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession;
play (n.)the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize);
there was heavy play at the blackjack table
play (n.)the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully;
