Definition of Play around

1. Verb. Commit adultery. "He plays around a lot"

Exact synonyms: Fool Around
Generic synonyms: Betray, Cheat, Cheat On, Cuckold, Wander

2. Verb. Work with in an amateurish manner. "He plays around with investments but he never makes any money"
Exact synonyms: Dabble, Smatter
Generic synonyms: Busy, Occupy
Derivative terms: Dabbler

Definition of Play around

1. Verb. To behave in a silly, or childish, or irresponsible way. ¹

2. Verb. To work with in a non-serious manner ¹

3. Verb. (idiomatic) To engage in sexual practices outside of marriage. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Play Around

play'd
play-actor
play-box
play-by-play
play-by-play announcer
play-by-play announcers
play-off
play-offs
play Cupid
play Nostradamus
play Old Harry
play a joke on
play a trick on
play along
play and playthings
play at
play back
play ball
play both ends against the middle
play both sides against the middle
play bow
play by ear
play catch-up
play dead
play down
play dumb
play false

Literary usage of Play around

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Wendell Phillips: A Eulogy Delivered Before the Municipal Authorities of by George William Curtis (1884)
"... ripples that play around the sure and steady prow of the resistless ship. Like an illuminated vase of odors, he glowed with concentrated and perfumed ..."

2. Mechanically Inclined: Building Grammar, Usage, and Style Into Writer's Workshop by Jeff Anderson (2005)
"Returning to our freewrites in our writer's notebooks from the day before, I direct students to play around with their text, imitating any of ..."

3. Reports of Cases Arising Upon Letters Patent for Inventions: Determined in by Samuel Sparks Fisher (1870)
"... it is necessary that it be capable of a slight play around its axis, independent of the motion imparted to it by the machinery which actuates it. ..."

4. Finger Play Reader by John Walter Davis, Fanny Julien (1909)
"Here comes the sand-man. Here comes the Indian sand-man. See his bees' wings. His men play around the cradle. They play around the Indian baby. ..."

5. Wendell Phillips: A Eulogy Delivered Before the Municipal Authorities of by George William Curtis (1884)
"... ripples that play around the sure and steady prow of the resistless ship. Like an illuminated vase of odors, he glowed with concentrated and perfumed ..."

6. Mechanically Inclined: Building Grammar, Usage, and Style Into Writer's Workshop by Jeff Anderson (2005)
"Returning to our freewrites in our writer's notebooks from the day before, I direct students to play around with their text, imitating any of ..."

7. Reports of Cases Arising Upon Letters Patent for Inventions: Determined in by Samuel Sparks Fisher (1870)
"... it is necessary that it be capable of a slight play around its axis, independent of the motion imparted to it by the machinery which actuates it. ..."

8. Finger Play Reader by John Walter Davis, Fanny Julien (1909)
"Here comes the sand-man. Here comes the Indian sand-man. See his bees' wings. His men play around the cradle. They play around the Indian baby. ..."

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