■ verb
1》 engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose.
↘amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence.
↘( ~ with ) treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement: she likes to ~ with people's emotions.
↘tamper with something so as to damage it: has somebody been ~ing with these taps?
2》 take part in (a sport or contest).
↘compete against.
↘take a specified position in a sports team: he ~ed in goal.
↘strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke).
↘move (a piece) or dis~ (a ~ing card) in one's turn in a game.
↘bet or gamble at or on.
3》 informal be cooperative.
4》 represent (a character) in a ~ or film.
↘give a performance at (a particular venue).
↘pretend to be: the skipper ~ed the innocent.
↘( ~ someone for ) treat someone as being of (a specified type): don't imagine you can ~ me for a fool.
5》 perform on or have the skill to perform on (a musical instrument).
↘produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music).
↘make (a record ~er, radio, etc.) produce sounds.
6》 move lightly and quickly; flicker: a smile ~ed about her lips.
7》 allow (a fish) to exhaust itself on a line before reeling it in.
■ noun
1》 games and other activities engaged in for enjoyment, especially by children.
↘behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously.
2》 the progress of a sporting match.
↘the status of the ball in a game as being available to be ~ed according to the rules: the ball was put in ~.
↘a move or manoeuvre in a sport or game.
3》 the state of being active, operative, or effective: luck comes into ~.
4》 a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast.
5》 the ability or freedom of movement in a mechanism.
6》 light and constantly changing movement.
7》 archaic gambling.
Phrases
make a ~ for informal attempt to attract or attain.
make ( great ) ~ of (or with) ostentatiously draw attention to.
make ~ with treat frivolously.
~ something by ear
1》 perform music without having seen a score.
2》 ( ~ it by ear ) informal proceed instinctively according to circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan.
~ fast and loose behave irresponsibly or immorally.
~ for time use specious excuses or unnecessary manoeuvres to gain time.
~ a (or one's ) hunch make an instinctive choice.
~ into someone's hands act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage.
~ it cool informal make an effort to be or appear to be unconcerned.
a ~ on words a pun.
~ ( it ) safe avoid taking risks.
~ with oneself informal masturbate.
~ with fire take foolish risks.
Phrasal verbs
~ about (or around ) behave in a casual or irresponsible way.
↘ informal (of a married person) have an affair.
~ along perform a piece of music at the same time as a recorded version of it is ~ing.
↘pretend to cooperate.
~ someone along informal deceive or mislead someone.
~ something down pretend that something is less important than it in fact is.
~ someone off bring other people into conflict for one's own advantage.
~ off (of two competitors) ~ an extra match to decide a draw or tie.
~ on exploit (someone's weak or vulnerable point).
~ up
1》 Brit. informal fail to function properly; cause problems.
2》 Brit. put all one's energy into a game.
~ something up emphasize the extent or importance of something.
~ up to humour or flatter.
Derivatives
~ability noun
~able adjective
Origin
OE pleg(i)an 'to exercise', plega 'brisk movement'.