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