play (pl
)
v. played, play·ing, plays.
v. intr.
1.
To occupy oneself
in amusement, sport, or other recreation: children playing with
toys.
2.
a.
Games. To take part in a game: No minors are eligible
to play.
b.
To participate
in betting; gamble.
3.
To act in jest
or sport: They're not quarreling in earnest, they're just playing.
4.
To deal or behave
carelessly or indifferently; toy. See Synonyms at flirt.
5.
To behave or
converse in a sportive or playful way.
6.
To act or conduct
oneself in a specified way: play fair; an investor who plays cautiously.
7.
To act, especially
in a dramatic production.
8.
Music.
. To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.
a.
To emit sound
or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.
9.
To be performed,
as in a theater or on television: A good movie is playing tonight.
10.
To be received
or accepted: a speech that played poorly with the voters.
11.
To move or seem
to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly: The breeze played on the
water.
12.
To function
or discharge uninterruptedly: The fountains played in the courtyard.
13.
To move or operate
freely within a bounded space, as machine parts do.
v. tr.
1.
a.
To perform or
act (a role or part) in a dramatic performance.
b.
To assume the
role of; act as: played the peacemaker at the conference.
2.
To perform (a
theatrical work) on or as if on the stage.
3.
To present a
theatrical performance in (a given place): The company played Detroit
last week.
4.
To pretend to
be; mimic the activities of: played cowboy; played the star.
5.
Sports
& Games.
. To engage in (a game or sport): play hockey;
play chess.
a.
To compete against
in a game or sport.
b.
To occupy or
work at (a position) in a game: Lou Gehrig played first base.
c.
To employ (a
player) in a game or position: Let's play her at first base.
d.
To use or move
(a card, piece, or ball) in a game or sport: play the queen of hearts.
e.
To make (a shot
or stroke), as in tennis: played a strong backhand.
6.
Games.
. To bet; wager: played five dollars on the
roan horse.
a.
To make bets
on: play the races.
7.
To perform or
put into effect, especially as a jest or deception: play a joke
on a friend.
8.
To handle; manage:
played the matter quietly.
9.
To use or manipulate,
especially for one's own interests: He played his two opponents
against each other.
10.
Music.
. To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.
a.
To perform (a
piece) on instruments or an instrument.
11.
To cause (a
record or phonograph, for example) to emit recorded sounds.
12.
To discharge
or direct in or as if in a continuous stream: play a hose on a fire.
13.
To cause to
move rapidly, lightly, or irregularly: play lights over the dance
floor.
14.
To exhaust (a
hooked fish) by allowing it to pull on the line.
n.
1.
a.
A literary work
written for performance on the stage; a drama.
b.
The performance
of such a work.
2.
Activity engaged
in for enjoyment or recreation.
3.
Fun or jesting:
It was all done in play.
4.
Sports
& Games.
. The act or manner of engaging in a game or sport:
After a time-out, play resumed. The golf tournament featured expert play.
a.
The act or manner
of using a card, piece, or ball in a game or sport: my partner's
play of the last trump; his clumsy play of the rebound.
b.
A move or an
action in a game: It's your play. The runner was thrown out in a
close play.
5.
Games. Participation in betting; gambling.
6.
Manner of dealing
with others; conduct: fair play.
7.
An attempt to
obtain something; a bid: a play for sympathy.
8.
. Action, motion, or use: the play of the imagination.
a.
Freedom or occasion
for action; scope: give full play to an artist's talents.
See Synonyms at room.
9.
Movement or
space for movement, as of mechanical parts.
10.
Quick, often
irregular movement or action, especially of light or color: the
play of color on iridescent feathers.
Phrasal Verbs:
play along Informal
To
cooperate or pretend to cooperate: decided to play along with the
robbers for a while.
play at
1.
To participate
in; engage in.
2.
To do or take
part in half-heartedly.
play back
To
replay (a recently recorded tape, for example).
play down
To
minimize the importance of; make little of: played down the defect
to protect the troops' morale.
play off
1.
Sports.
a.
To establish
the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.
b.
To participate
in a playoff.
2.
To set (one
individual or party) in opposition to another so as to advance one's own
interests: a parent who played off one child against another.
play on or play upon
To
take advantage of (another's attitudes or feelings) for one's own interests:
demagogues who play on popular fears.
play out
To
use up; exhaust: Our strength was played out early in the contest.
play up
To
emphasize or publicize: She played up her experience during the
employment interview.
Idioms:
in play
1.
Sports. In a position to be legally or feasibly played:
The ball is now in play.
2.
In a position,
or rumored to be in a position of possible corporate takeover: The
company's stock rose in price when news stories stated that it was in
play.
out of play Sports
Not
in a position to be legally or feasibly played.
play ball Slang
To
cooperate: The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us.
play both
ends against the middle
To
set opposing parties or interests against one another so as to advance
one's own goals.
play fast
and loose
To
behave in a recklessly irresponsible or deceitful manner: played
fast and loose with the facts.
play for time
To
use delaying tactics; temporize.
play games Slang
To
be evasive or deceptive: Quit playing games and tell me what you
want.
play in Peoria Slang
To
be acceptable to average constituents or consumers: an elitist political
campaign that could never play in Peoria.
play into
the hands of
To
act or behave so as to give an advantage to (an opponent).
play (one's)
cards Informal
To
use the resources or strategies at one's disposal: played her cards
right and got promoted.
play possum
To
pretend to be sleeping or dead.
play the field
To
date more than one person.
play the game Informal
To
behave according to the accepted customs or standards.
play up to
To
curry favor with.
play with
fire
To
take part in a dangerous or risky undertaking.
[Middle English playen, from Old English plegian.]