I. ˈgām noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from gamen, from Old English; akin to Old High German & Old Norse gaman pleasure, amusement
1.
a.
(1) : an amusement or pastime : diversion , play
children at their games
regarded his poetic activity as a game to while away tedious hours
(2) : the equipment used to play a game
what games will you buy the children for Christmas
b. : a practical joke : foolery , fun , prank , sport , lark
don't get mad, it was all a game
I'm tired of your games
— often used in the phrase to make game
the women were always making game of her — W.D.Steele
the queer wicked grin … you do have the time you're making game with a man — J.M.Synge
2.
a. : a scheme or strategy employed in the pursuit of an object or purpose : method of procedure : course , plan , tactic
the authorities decided to play a waiting game — Philip Rooney
the game was to look frightened and then relieved — Alan Harrington
the president tried another game — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
the game is up
b.
(1) : an illegal, fraudulent, or shady scheme or maneuver : racket , dodge , trick
a bad plan for that kind of game — our police are too good — John Buchan
picked up after bilking a filling-station attendant in a short-change game — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
(2) : a particular occupation, profession, or other field of gainful activity : line
the fight game
the newspaper game
a commercial traveler in the hardware game — Richard Bissell
(3) : a specified type of activity or mode of behavior
the game of sin is never worth while — F.A.Swinnerton
the game of love
the game of politics
3.
a.
(1) : a physical or mental competition conducted according to rules in which the participants play in direct opposition to each other, each side striving to win and to keep the other side from doing so — see game of chance
(2) : a division or subdivision of a larger contest
two games in a row gave them a 700-point rubber
he won the first set by a score of six games to two but lost the match
(3) : a single contest lasting until a designated limit (as a set time or a certain number of innings or points) is reached
(4) : the number of points necessary to be scored in order to win
in casino 21 points is game
in schuffleboard 50 points is game
(5) : points credited on the score in some card games (as seven-up) to the player whose cards count up the highest
(6) : the ten-spot of trumps counting a point to the one securing it in play in pedro, cinch, and certain other card games
(7) : any of the available bids or declarations that impose specific obligations on the bidder in skat and related games
(8) : score
the bowler's games were 197, 189, and 200
(9) : a statistical unit for measuring the relative competitive standing of the teams in a league
three games behind
(10) : the manner, quality, or style of playing in a contest
they play a very rough game
occasionally … put aside domestic cares to keep up her game at the local country club — M.F. & Katharine Pringle
he is off his game
shoots in the low 80s when he is on his game — Time
(11) : the set of rules according to which a game is played
will you teach me the game
b. games plural : organized athletics
games and circuses are not as good as art, music, and literature — Walter Moberly
c. : charades — used with the
d. : a contest, rivalry, or struggle of any kind
delegates who are anxious to back a winner … early in the game — Newsweek
4.
a. obsolete : sport in the hunting field
b.
(1) : animals under pursuit or taken in hunting : quarry
(2) : animals considered worthy of pursuit by sportsmen ; especially : wild animals hunted for sport or food
(3) : the flesh of a game animal considered as food
c.
(1) : a kept herd or flock — now used of swans
(2) : game fowl
(3) archaic : the combative spirit held to be typical of game fowl
d. : a butt, target, or object especially of ridicule, exploitation, pursuit, or attack
they are also bores — always the richest game for the comic instinct — V.S.Pritchett
— often used in the phrase fair game
all the customers in the speakeasies were fair game — George Raft
Synonyms: see fun
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English gamen to play, from game, n. — more at game I
intransitive verb
: to play for a stake (as with cards, dice, or billiards)
the men became sufficiently acquainted to game together — Frances Trollope
transitive verb
archaic : to lose or squander by gambling — used chiefly with away
III. adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: game (I)
1. : having a resolute unyielding spirit
he was game to the end
2. : of or relating to game
game laws
game warden
IV. adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: perhaps from game (III)
: lame
a game leg
V. transitive verb
: to take dishonest advantage of : cheat
game the tax system