play with somebody/something phrasal verb ( see also ↑ play )
1 . to keep touching something or moving it:
Stop playing with the light switch!
2 . to try doing something in different ways to decide what works best:
Play with the design onscreen, moving text and pictures until you get a pleasing arrangement.
3 . to consider an idea or possibility, but not always very seriously SYN toy with :
After university, I played with the idea of teaching English in China.
4 . money/time/space etc to play with money, time etc that is available to be used:
The budget is very tight, so there isn’t much money to play with.
5 . play with yourself to touch your own sex organs for pleasure SYN masturbate
6 . play with words/language to use words in a clever or amusing way