play

²play

verb

Definition of PLAY

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

Examples of PLAY

1. The children were playing in the yard.
2. Can Sara come out and play?
3. He played by himself in his room.
4. Did you play any sports in high school?
5. No one dares to play chess with him.
6. The children were playing hide-and-seek.
7. I have a chess set. Do you want to play?
8. It's your turn to play.
9. She hurt her wrist but decided to continue playing.
10. He played in every major tournament this year.

First Known Use of PLAY

before 12th century

Related to PLAY

Synonyms: dally, disport, frolic, recreate, rollick, skylark, sport, toy

Related Words: cavort, frisk, gambol, romp; dabble, trifle; amuse, divert, entertain; delight, please; dabble, fiddle (around), mess around, putter (around); bum (around), dawdle, goldbrick, hang, hang about [British], idle, loaf, lounge (around or about), relax, rest, screw around, slack (off); jest, joke, tease

Near Antonyms: drudge, labor, plod, plug (away), slave, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, work

see all synonyms and antonyms

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