Lexic.us

Definition of Play

1. Noun. A dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage. "He wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"

2. Verb. Participate in games or sport. "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

3. Noun. A theatrical performance of a drama. "The play lasted two hours"

4. Verb. Act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome. "I played no role in your dismissal"

5. Noun. A preset plan of action in team sports. "The coach drew up the plays for her team"

6. Verb. Play on an instrument. "Sam and Sue play"; "The band played all night long"

7. Noun. A deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill. "The runner was out on a play by the shortstop"

8. Verb. Play a role or part. "She played the servant to her husband's master"

9. Noun. A state in which action is feasible. "Insiders said the company's stock was in play"

10. Verb. Be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children. "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"

11. Noun. Utilization or exercise. "The play of the imagination"

12. Verb. Replay (as a melody). "They will play the duet"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"

13. Noun. An attempt to get something. "He made a bid to gain attention"

14. Verb. Perform music on (a musical instrument). "Can you play on this old recorder?"

15. Noun. Activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules. "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"

16. Verb. Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind. "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

17. Noun. (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds. "Rain stopped play in the 4th inning"

18. Verb. Move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly. "The spotlights played on the politicians"

19. Noun. The removal of constraints. "They gave full play to the artist's talent"

20. Verb. Bet or wager (money). "She plays the races"

21. Noun. A weak and tremulous light. "The play of light on the water"

22. Verb. Engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion. "The students all recreate alike"

23. Noun. Verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously). "He said it in sport"

24. Verb. Pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity. "Play cowboy and Indians"

25. Noun. Movement or space for movement. "There was too much play in the steering wheel"

26. Verb. Emit recorded sound. "The stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"

27. Noun. Gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement. "Their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly"

28. Verb. Perform on a certain location. "She has been playing on Broadway for years"

29. Noun. (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession. "It is still my play"

30. Verb. Put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game. "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"

31. Noun. The act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize). "There was heavy play at the blackjack table"

32. Verb. Engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously. "Toy with an idea"

33. Noun. The act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully.

34. Verb. Behave in a certain way. "Play fair"

35. Verb. Cause to emit recorded audio or video. "Sam and Sue play the movie "; "He never tires of playing that video"

36. Verb. Manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination. "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"

37. Verb. Use to one's advantage. "She plays on her clients' emotions"

38. Verb. Consider not very seriously. "Sam wants to play with Sue "; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"

39. Verb. Be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way. "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"

40. Verb. Behave carelessly or indifferently. "Play about with a young girl's affection"

41. Verb. Cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space. "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"

42. Verb. Perform on a stage or theater. "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"

43. Verb. Be performed or presented for public viewing. "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

44. Verb. Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence. "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"

45. Verb. Discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream. "The fountains played all day"

46. Verb. Make bets. "Play the casinos in Trouville"

47. Verb. Stake on the outcome of an issue. "They play the money "; "She played all her money on the dark horse"

48. Verb. Shoot or hit in a particular manner. "She played a good backhand last night"

49. Verb. Use or move. "I had to play my queen"

50. Verb. Employ in a game or in a specific position. "They played him on first base"

51. Verb. Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle. "Sam cannot play Sue "; "Charlie likes to play Mary"

52. Verb. Exhaust by allowing to pull on the line. "Play a hooked fish"

Definition of Play

1. v. i. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.

2. v. t. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.

3. n. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.

Definition of Play

1. Noun. Activity for amusement only, especially among the young. ¹

2. Noun. The conduct, or course of a game. ¹

3. Noun. An individual's performance in a sport or game. ¹

4. Noun. (''turn-based games'') An action carried out when it is one's turn to play. ¹

5. Noun. A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue. ¹

6. Noun. A theatrical performance featuring actors. ¹

7. Noun. A major move by a business. ¹

8. Noun. A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources. ¹

9. Noun. The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely. ¹

10. Noun. (uncountable informal) Sexual role-playing. ¹

11. Noun. (rfd-sense fragment=Start) A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played. ¹

12. Verb. (intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation. ¹

13. Verb. (intransitive) To take part in amorous activity; to make love, fornicate; to have sex. ¹

14. Verb. (intransitive) To perform in a sport. ¹

15. Verb. (transitive) To participate in the game indicated. ¹

16. Verb. (transitive) To compete against, in a game ¹

17. Verb. (transitive) To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance. ¹

18. Verb. (intransitive) To produce music using a musical instrument. ¹

19. Verb. (transitive ergative) To produce music on the indicated musical instrument. ¹

20. Verb. (transitive ergative) To produce music, the indicated song or style, with a musical instrument. ¹

21. Verb. (transitive ergative) To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording. ¹

22. Verb. (context: copulative) Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Play

1. to engage in amusement or sport [v -ED, -ING, -S] : PLAYABLE [adj]

Medical Definition of Play

1. 1. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump. "First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul." (Herbert) 2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ. 3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin. 4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks. "Nature here Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will Her virgin fancies." (Milton) 5. To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman. "Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt." (Sir W. Scott) 6. To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball. 7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it. To play off, to display; to show; to put in exercise; as, to play off tricks. To play one's cards, to manage one's means or opportunities; to contrive. Played out, tired out; exhausted; at the end of one's resources. 1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot. "As Cannace was playing in her walk." (Chaucer) "The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play!" (Pope) "And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword." (Keble) 2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless. ""Nay," quod this monk, "I have no lust to pleye."" (Chaucer) "Men are apt to play with their healths." (Sir W. Temple) 3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes. 4. To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute. "One that . . . Can play well on an instrument." (Ezek. Xxxiii. 32) "Play, my friend, and charm the charmer." (Granville) 5. To act; to behave; to practice deception. "His mother played false with a smith." (Shak) 6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays. "The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play." (Cheyne) 7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport. "Even as the waving sedges play with wind." (Shak) "The setting sun Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets." (Addison) "All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart." (Pope) 8. To act on the stage; to personate a character. "A lord will hear your play to-night." (Shak) "Courts are theaters where some men play." (Donne) To play into a person's hands, to act, or to manage matters, to his advantage or benefit. To play off, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice. To play upon. To make sport of; to deceive. "Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight." (Shak) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as, to play upon words. Origin: OE. Pleien, AS. Plegian, plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. Plegan to promise, pledge, D. Plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G. Pflegen; of unknown origin. Cf. Plight. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Play

plauding plaudit plaudite plauditory plaudits plauds plausibilities plausibility plausible plausible deniability

plausibleness plausiblenesses plausibly plausive plaw 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

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