play

English Dictionary -> Letter P -> play

Search Dictionary:

play Definition

(n) a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
(n) a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
(n) a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
(n) a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
(n) a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company''s stock was in play"
(n) utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"
(n) an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"
(n) play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
(n) (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
(n) the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist''s talent"
(n) a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
(n) verbal wit (often at another''s expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"
(n) movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"
(n) gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly"
(n) the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table"
(n) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
(n) the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
(v) participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
(v) act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"
(v) play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
(v) play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband''s master"
(v) be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
(v) replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
(v) perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
(v) pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
(v) move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"
(v) bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
(v) engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
(v) pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let''s play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
(v) emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
(v) perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
(v) put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"
(v) engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stockmarket"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"
(v) behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
(v) cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"
(v) manipulate manually or in one''s mind or imagination; "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don''t fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"
(v) use to one''s advantage; "She plays on her clients'' emotions"
(v) consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
(v) be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way; "This speech didn''t play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"
(v) behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl''s affection"
(v) cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
(v) perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar''"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol''"
(v) be performed; "What''s playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats'' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
(v) cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "I cannot work a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"
(v) discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
(v) make bets; "Play the reaces"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
(v) stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"
(v) shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
(v) use or move; "I had to play my queen"
(v) employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
(v) contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"
(v) exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"

play Synonyms