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1. Dictionary

   play

   /pleɪ/

   verb

   • 1. engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose: "the children were playing by a pool" Similar amuse oneselfentertain oneselfenjoy oneselfhave funhave a good timerelaxrestbe at leisureoccupy oneselfdivert oneselfplay gamesfrolicfriskgambolrompcavortcaperinformal:mess aboutmess aroundlark (about)lark (around)dated:sportarchaic, humorous:disport oneself
   • ▪ engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment: "I want to play Snakes and Ladders" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence: "the boys were playing cops and robbers"
   • 2. take part in (a sport): "I play squash and badminton" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ participate in (a sporting match or contest): "the squad will have played 14 games in six weeks" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ compete against (another player or team) in a sporting match: "the team will play France on Wednesday" Similar compete againstcontend againstopposetake onchallengevie withrival
   • ▪ be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a sporting contest: "he played in goal"
   • ▪ strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game: "was he in an offside position when his teammate played the ball?"
   • ▪ (of a cricket ground) be in such condition as to have a specified effect on play.
   • ▪ assign to take part in a match, especially in a specified position: "the manager played his strongest side of the season"
   • ▪ move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game: "he played his queen"
   • ▪ bet or gamble at or on: "he didn't gamble or play the ponies"
   • 3. be cooperative: "he needs financial backing, but the building societies won't play"
   • 4. represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film: "early in her career she played Ophelia" Similar act the part ofplay the part ofacttake the role ofenactrepresentperformappear asportraydepictimpersonatepretend to beexecuterenderinterpretrare:personate
   • ▪ perform in a film or theatrical production: "he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor"
   • ▪ put on or take part in (a theatrical performance, film, or concert): "the show was one of the best we ever played"
   • ▪ give a dramatic performance at (a particular theatre or place): "the company are playing 11 cities around the country"
   • ▪ behave as though one were (a specified type of person): "the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel"
   • 5. perform on (a musical instrument): "a man was playing a guitar"
   • ▪ possess the skill of performing on (a musical instrument): "he taught himself to play the violin" Similar perform onmake music onblowsoundstrum
   • ▪ produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music): "they played a violin sonata"
   • ▪ make (a disc, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images: "someone is playing a record—I can hear the drum"
   • ▪ (of a musical instrument, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images: "somewhere within, a harp was playing"
   • ▪ accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction: "the bagpipes played them out of the dining room"
   • 6. move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker: "little beams of light played over the sea" Similar move lightlydanceflitdartripplelicktouch
   • ▪ (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water: "a fountain played in the courtyard"
   • 7. allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in: "no fisherman ever played a bonita more carefully or with greater wile"

   noun

   • 1. activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children: "a child at play may use a stick as an aeroplane" Similar amusemententertainmentrelaxationrecreationenjoymentpleasurediversiondistractionleisurefungamesfun and gamesplayfulnesshorseplayskylarkinglarksa good timejollificationjunketingmerrymakingrevelryinformal:living it updated:sportOpposite work
   • ▪ behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously: "I flinched, but only in play"
   • ▪ designed to be used in games of pretence; not real: "play families are arranged in play houses"
   • 2. the conducting of a sporting match: "rain wrecked the second day's play"
   • ▪ the action or manner of engaging in a sport or game: "he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game"
   • ▪ the status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules: "the ball was put in play"
   • ▪ the state of being active, operative, or effective: "someone has a bright idea and decides to put it into play" Similar actionactivityoperationmovementmotionagencyemploymentworkingfunctionfunctioningexerciseinteractioninterplay
   • ▪ a move or manoeuvre in a sport or game: "the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs"
   • ▪ the activity of gambling: archaic "a young nobleman, ruined by play"
   • 3. a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast: "the actors put on a new play" Similar dramastage playstage showtheatrical worktheatrical pieceradio playtelevision playteleplayscreenplaycomedytragedyfarcesketchproductionperformancespectacleshow
   • 4. the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move: "the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play" Similar movementfreedom of movementfree motionslackgiveroom to manoeuvreroom to operatescopelatitudeelbow roomspacemargin
   • ▪ scope or freedom to act or operate: "our policy allows the market to have freer play" Similar scoperangelatitudelibertylicencefreedomindulgencefree reinrelease
   • 5. light and constantly changing movement: "the artist exploits the play of light across the surface"

   Word Origin Old Englishpleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • P

     3

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • Y

     4

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPLAY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   PLAY definition: 1. When you play, especially as a child, you spend time doing an enjoyable and/or entertaining…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › playPlay Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › play

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   1. a. : swordplay. b. archaic : game, sport. c. : the conduct, course, or action of a game. d. : a particular act or maneuver in a game: such as. (1) : the action during an attempt to advance the ball in football. (2) : the action in which a player is put out in baseball. e. : the action in which cards are played after bidding in a card game. f.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › playPLAY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › play

   • Cached

   Play is the general word for any such form of activity, often undirected, spontaneous, or random: Childhood should be a time for play. Game refers to a recreational contest, mental or physical, usually governed by set rules: a game of chess.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishplay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of play verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPLAY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   You can use play to describe how someone behaves, when they are deliberately behaving in a certain way or like a certain type of person. For example, to play the innocent, means to pretend to be innocent, and to play deaf means to pretend not to hear something.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › playPlay - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › play

   A play is a dramatic work that's written to be staged in a theater and in front of an audience. Your city might offer a free Shakespeare play in the park every year. If you take part in a game or a sport, you play it. You might love to play charades, but no one is going to want to play with you if you keep forgetting the rules.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › playPlay - definition of play by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › play

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   1. To occupy oneself in an activity for amusement or recreation: children playing with toys. 2. a. To take part in a sport or game: He's just a beginner and doesn't play well. b. To participate in betting; gamble. 3. a. To behave in a teasing or joking manner; act in jest or sport: She's not angry with you; she's just playing. b.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishPLAY | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   PLAY definition: 1. to take part in a sport or game: 2. If children play, they enjoy themselves with toys and…. Learn more.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishplay noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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    Definition of play noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

11. en.wiktionary.org › wiki › playplay - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

    en.wiktionary.org › wiki › play

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    Jul 7, 2024 · play (third-person singular simple present plays, present participle playing, simple past and past participle played) ( intransitive ) To act in a manner such that one has fun ; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment .