I. ˈplā noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English plega; akin to Old English plegan to play, Middle Dutch pleyen
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : swordplay
b. archaic : game , sport
c. : the conduct, course, or action of a game
d. : a particular act or maneuver in a game: as
(1) : the action during an attempt to advance the ball in football
(2) : the action in which a player is put out in baseball
e. : the action in which cards are played after bidding in a card game
f. : the moving of a piece in a board game (as chess)
g. : one's turn in a game
it's your play
2.
a. obsolete : sexual intercourse
b. : amorous flirtation : dalliance
3.
a. : recreational activity ; especially : the spontaneous activity of children
b. : absence of serious or harmful intent : jest
said it in play
c. : the act or an instance of playing on words or speech sounds
d. : gaming , gambling
4.
a.
(1) : an act, way, or manner of proceeding : maneuver
that was a play to get your fingerprints — Erle Stanley Gardner
(2) : deal , venture
b.
(1) : the state of being active, operative, or relevant
other motives surely come into play — M. R. Cohen
several issues are at play
(2) : brisk, fitful, or light movement
the gem presented a dazzling play of colors
(3) : free or unimpeded motion (as of a part of a machine) ; also : the length or measure of such motion
(4) : scope or opportunity for action
(5) : a function of an electronic device that causes a recording to play
5. : emphasis or publicity especially in the news media
wished the country received a better play in the American press — Hugh MacLennan
6. : a move or series of moves calculated to arouse friendly feelings — usually used with make
made a big play for the girl — Will Herman
7.
a. : the stage representation of an action or story
b. : a dramatic composition : drama
Synonyms: see fun
•
- in play
- out of play
II. intransitive verb
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : to engage in sport or recreation : frolic
b. : to have sexual relations ; especially : to have promiscuous or illicit sexual relations — usually used in the phrase play around
c.
(1) : to move aimlessly about : trifle
(2) : to toy or fiddle around with something
play ed with her food
(3) : to deal or behave frivolously or mockingly : jest
(4) : to deal in a light, speculative, or sportive manner
(5) : to make use of double meaning or of the similarity of sound of two words for stylistic or humorous effect
2.
a. : to take advantage
play ing on fears
b.
(1) : flutter , frisk
(2) : to move or operate in a lively, irregular, or intermittent manner
c. : to move or function freely within prescribed limits
d. : to produce a stream
hoses play ing on a fire
3.
a.
(1) : to perform music
play on a violin
(2) : to sound in performance
the organ is play ing
(3) : to emit sounds
the radio is play ing
(4) : to reproduce recorded sounds
a record is play ing
b.
(1) : to act in a dramatic production
(2) : show , run
what's play ing at the theater
c. : to be suitable for dramatic performance
d. : to act with special consideration so as to gain favor, approval, or sympathy
might play to popular prejudices to serve his political ends — V. L. Parrington
— often used in the phrase play up to
e. : to produce a specified impression in performance
a movie that play s like a sitcom
4.
a. : to engage or take part in a game
b. : to perform in a position in a specified manner
the outfielders were play ing deep
c. : to perform an action during one's turn in a game
d. : gamble
e.
(1) : to behave or conduct oneself in a specified way
play safe
(2) : to feign a specified state or quality
play dead
(3) : to take part in or assent to some activity : cooperate
play along with his scheme
(4) : to act so as to prove advantageous to another — usually used in the phrase play into the hands of
5. : to gain approval : go over
her idea did not play well
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to engage in or occupy oneself with
play baseball
(2) : to engage in (an activity) as a game
(3) : to deal with, handle, or manage
(4) : exploit , manipulate
b. : to pretend to engage in the activities of
play war
children play ing house
c.
(1) : to amount to by one's efforts
play ed an important role in their success
(2) : to perform or execute for amusement or to deceive or mock
play a trick
(3) : wreak
play havoc
(4) : to use or introduce as a political or rhetorical strategy
play the national security card
2.
a.
(1) : to put on a performance of (a play)
(2) : to act in the character or part of
(3) : to act or perform in
play ed leading theaters
b. : to perform or act the part of
play the fool
3.
a.
(1) : to contend against in or as if in a game
(2) : to use as a contestant in a game
the coach did not play him
(3) : to perform the duties associated with (a certain position)
play ed quarterback
(4) : to guard or move into position to defend against (an opponent) in a specified manner
b.
(1) : to wager in a game : stake
(2) : to make wagers on
play the races
(3) : to speculate on or in
play the stock market
(4) : to operate on the basis of
play a hunch
c. : to put into action in a game ; especially : to remove (a playing card) from one's hand and place usually faceup on a table in one's turn either as part of a scoring combination or as one's contribution to a trick
d. : to catch or pick up (a batted ball) : field
play ed the ball bare-handed
e. : to direct the course of (as a ball) : hit
play ed a wedge shot to the green
also : to cause (a ball or puck) to rebound
play ed the ball off the backboard
4.
a. : to perform (music) on an instrument
play a waltz
b. : to perform music on
play the violin
c. : to perform music of (a certain composer)
d.
(1) : to cause (as a radio or phonograph) to emit sounds
(2) : to cause the recorded sound or image of (as a record or a magnetic tape) to be reproduced
5.
a. : wield , ply
b. : to discharge, fire, or set off with continuous effect
play ed the hose on the burning building
c. : to cause to move or operate lightly and irregularly or intermittently
d. : to keep (a hooked fish) in action
• play·abil·i·ty ˌplā-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• play·able ˈplā-ə-bəl adjective
•
- play ball
- play both ends against the middle
- play by ear
- play games
- play one's cards
- play possum
- play second fiddle
- play the field
- play the game
- play with a full deck
- play with fire
- play with oneself