Main Entry: ²play

Function: verb

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb

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 <played 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 <playing 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 playing on a fire>
3 a (1) : to perform music <play on a violin> (2) : to sound in performance <the organ is playing> (3) : to emit sounds <the radio is playing> (4) : to reproduce recorded sounds <a record is playing> b (1) : to act in a dramatic production (2) : show, run <what's playing 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 plays 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 playing 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 playing house> c (1) : to amount to by one's efforts <played 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 <played 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) <played 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 <played the ball bare-handed> e : to direct the course of (as a ball) : hit <played a wedge shot to the green>; also : to cause (a ball or puck) to rebound <played 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 <played 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 : cooperate

— play both ends against the middle : to set opposing interests against each other to one's own ultimate profit

— play by ear : to deal with something without previous planning or instructions

— play games : to try to hide the truth from someone by deceptive means

— play one's cards : to act with the means available to one

— play possum : to pretend to be asleep or dead

— play second fiddle : to take a subordinate position

— play the field : to date or have romantic connections with more than one person

— play the game : to act according to a code or set of standards

— play with a full deck : to be rational or sane

— play with fire : to do something risky or dangerous

— play with oneself : masturbate