Definition of play in English English dictionary
- To perform in a sport
Who's playing now?.
- An action carried out when it is one's turn to play
- To take part in amorous activity; to make love, fornicate; to have sex
Her proper face / I not descerned in that darkesome shade, / But weend it was my loue, with whom he playd.
- To produce music using a musical instrument
I've practiced the piano off and on, and I still can't play very well.
- A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources
- To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation
We had to play for an hour, so that meant that we didn't have time to play and joke around.
- Sexual role-playing (as in ageplay, bloodplay, pissplay)
The rarity of male domination in fantasy play is readily explained.
- The conduct, or course of a game
- Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being
Instead, they played dumb, remained silent, and did their classwork.
- A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played
- The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely
Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous.
- To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording
You can play the DVD now.
- An individual's performance in a sport or game
- To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance
No part of the brain plays the role of permanent memory.
- To produce music, the indicated song or style, with a musical instrument
My son thinks he can play music.
- To participate in the game indicated
play games.
- To produce music on the indicated musical instrument
Can you play an instrument?.
- A theatrical performance featuring actors
- A major move by a business
- A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue
- Activity for amusement only, especially among the young
- {v} to sport, toy, trifle, mock, act, perform
- {n} sport, recreation, a game, a drama, room
- To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ
- a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"
- cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"
- 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. Hill tried to play the peacemaker So you want to play nervous today? = act
- To act; to behave; to practice deception
- When children, animals, or perhaps adults play, they spend time doing enjoyable things, such as using toys and taking part in games. They played in the little garden Polly was playing with her teddy bear. Play is also a noun. a few hours of play until the baby-sitter takes them off to bed
- An individuals performance in a sport
- behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
- make bets; "Play the reaces"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
- To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it
- To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman
- n an attack with a planned fake, usually including two or more hitters; a combination 战术进攻，有掩护的进攻。
- exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"
- (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
- If you play with an object or with your hair, you keep moving it or touching it with your fingers, perhaps because you are bored or nervous. She stared at the floor, idly playing with the strap of her handbag
- An action carried out when it is ones turn to play
- employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
- To play a hand in poker means to make it past the initial round of betting In seven card stud, this usually means calling the bring-in, while in hold'em, this means calling the big blind If someone says they haven't played a hand in hours, they're not usually telling you that they've been walking, they're whining that they haven't had cards good enough to play Don't encourage them To make a play, or put a play on (someone), means to present a pattern of behavior inconsistent with your cards, that will mislead your opponent and cause them to make a mistake Often this means bluffing them out of a pot, but it can also mean getting them to call when you have a strong hand, or more generally anything calculated to guide their behavior
- 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
- 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 deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
- a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
- perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
- a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
- shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
- 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"
- a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
- verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"
- a spurt of action that begins with a snap and ends with a dead ball
- If you play a record, a CD, or a tape, you put it into a machine and sound is produced. If a record, CD, or tape is playing, sound is being produced from it. She played her records too loudly There is classical music playing in the background
- To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot
- To move gayly; to wanton; to disport
- Spontaneous and/or voluntary interactions and activities that are pleasurable and enjoyable; hands-on experiences that lead to learning/development of knowledge; opportunities to master activities through repetition and experimentation
- the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"
- Calculators Trivia Contest
- To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin
- The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play
- To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes
- a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
- discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
- To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute
- pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
- perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
- use or move; "I had to play my queen"
- If a musician or group of musicians plays or plays a concert, they perform music for people to listen or dance to. A band was playing He will play concerts in Amsterdam and Paris
- cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
- You can describe how someone deals with a situation by saying that they play it in a certain way. For example, if someone plays it cool, they keep calm and do not show much emotion, and if someone plays it straight, they behave in an honest and direct way. Investors are playing it cautious, and they're playing it smart
- play Old Harry
- To play the devil; to make mischief
Blenkiron and I have been moving in the best circles as skilled American engineers who are going to play Old Harry with the British on the Tigris. — John Buchan, Greenmantle, 1916.
- play along
- To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke
James played along with their cruel trick.
- play around
- To work with in a non-serious manner
You could build even more interesting components called amplifiers and begin playing around with amplifiers.
- play around
- To behave in a silly, or childish, or irresponsible way
Stop playing around, and get on with your homework.
- play around
- To engage in sexual practices outside of marriage
- play at
- To pretend to be a different person while playing a game
So we played at being pirates for a while.
- play at
- To give the impression that one is not working in a professional manner
In my opinion, John only plays at being an author. He hasn't sold more than two magazine articles in as many months.
- play ball
- To start anything tumultuous
- play ball
- To work together; to cooperate
The politicians refused to play ball with the journalists.
- play ball
- An expression used at the beginning of a game of baseball
- play both ends against the middle
- Alternative form of play both sides against the middle
- play both sides against the middle
- To manipulate competitors to the benefit of the manipulator
Some of the lesser Democrats, especially in the remoter reaches of the Bible country, have the same yearning, but they are not as numerous as the Republicans, all of whom have been greatly embarrassed by Dr. Hoover's laborious efforts to play both sides against the middle.
- play catch-up
- in a losing scenario, to take risks in an attempt to regain the lead
- play dead
- to lie very still, as would a corpse
- play dead
- to act as though defeated while awaiting a chance to attack
- play doctor
- To pretend to be doctor and patient as a form of child play
- play doctor
- To engage in sexual role-play of a medical nature
- play down
- To make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious
During the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, Miguel played down his immigrant status by removing Chicano patois from his speech and adopting the nickname Mike..
- play dumb
- To pretend to be mute
I played dumb 'cause I knew if I talked at all, being simple and guileless, you all would twist me up and have the whole thing in a jiffy.
- play dumb
- To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage
Died. Virginia Hill, 49, redheaded, free-spending playmate of the underworld . . . who later acted out a cameo role before the late Senator Estes Kefauver's Senate crime committee, playing dumb about the business dealings of her many racketeer friends.
- play fast and loose
- To be recklessly inaccurate, inappropriate, or otherwise ignoring guidelines and conventions
- play fast and loose
- To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits ones purpose
I cannot say that the there were any outright lies in the editorial, but it does play fast and loose with the truth.
- play fight
- An unrefereed contest in which participants try to dominate each other without inflicting injury
- play fight
- To engage in such a contest; to horseplay
- play fights
- plural form of play fight
- play for love
- to play a game of cards without stakes
- play games
- To deceive, to lie about one's intentions
Accusing Governor Carey of playing games with taxpayers in his $12.7 billion budget, the Senate majority leader, Warren M. Anderson of Binghamton, said today that it would face rough sledding, in the Republican led State Senate. - , 1979.
- play hard to get
- To be coy; to feign lack of romantical interest in a certain person, so as to force that person to be more overt in expressing interest
- play hardball
- To use every means possible to achieve a goal, especially in disregarding the harm caused
He was more than willing to extend the terms of the loan, but his boss decided to play hardball and demanded a balloon payment.
- play hardball
- To act rough and ruthless, especially in politics or business
So you wanna play hardball?.
- play hookey
- to be absent without permission, especially from school
- play hooky
- To miss school, work, or other duties without permission or an excuse
Plenty of people played hooky from work to go see the movie on opening day.
- play house
- To act out traditional housekeeping and family roles
Little girls seem to enjoy playing house more than little boys.
- play house
- A child's toy domestic dwelling, either for dolls or large enough for the child to enter
- play houses
- plural form of play house
- play in
- of a batsman, to settle and become comfortable with the conditions at the beginning of his innings
- play in
- To pass (someone) the ball into an attacking position
- play it by ear
- To play a song according to how it sounds, rather than from a written score
- play it by ear
- To do something by guessing, intuition, or trial and error; to react to events as they occur
If they ask for something we didn't prepare, we will have to play it by ear.
- play it cool
- to act cool
- play it safe
- To take a cautious, risk-free approach
Deciding to play it safe, he joined his father's accounting firm rather than pursue an acting career.
- play money
- Noticeably fake bills or coins intended for use as toy currency, especially with board games, rather than currency in a legitimate exchange market
- play off
- To compete against in a play-off
- play on
- of a batsman, to hit the ball into his own wicket, thus being out bowled
- play on
- to let the game continue after a foul has been committed, because the situation is advantageous to the team who would be awarded a foul
- play on words
- A pun, or similar humorous use of language such as a double entendre
- play one against another
- To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation
- play one's cards right
- To act sensibly; to make the right moves
If you play your cards right, you'll get the promotion you've been waiting for.
- play possum
- to feign sleep, illness, etc
When we used to get home late at night, I would play possum so my daddy would carry me inside and put me in bed.
- play possum
- to feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lay low
To keep the focus away from his client, the lawyer basically played possum during the entire complex trial, and his tactic paid off with an acquittal.
- play possum
- to dissemble or to feign ignorance; to disguise or conceal something in order to deceive
As none came with the coach from Deadwood, I suppose the amount of funds was insignificant. You can't tell, though, for the stage company is liable to play possum sometimes.
- play second fiddle
- To play a subsidiary or subordinate role to someone or something else
I think the VP got tired of playing second fiddle to the president, so if she's not promoted soon, she might leave.
- play silly buggers
- To act in a stupid or reckless manner
- play someone like a fiddle
- To manipulate (a person) skilfully
He played you like a fiddle.
- play structure
- playing structure
- play the board
- To have as one's best hand the communal cards on the board. A player in such a situation can only achieve a split pot as all the other players can also play the board
- play the field
- To date more than one person at the same time
He says I'm the only one, but my friends say he's playing the field.
- play the fool
- To behave in a foolish or comical manner
- play the ponies
- to bet on horse racing
- play the race card
- To assert that race or racism is responsible for a course of events, especially when race is not of particular significance to the issue in question; to attempt to inspire a particular reaction by raising the issue of race
Moreover, some leaders on both sides of any racial divide love to play the race card to keep themselves in power.
- play the same tape
- To repeat exactly what one previously said or did
We met a staff member, Pat, from Senator Dole's office first.... We had our message clear and crisp. We gave a couple of examples... . We indicated... . We talked about... . We thanked Pat and, as we walked to Senator Burr's office, congratulated each other... . We had a very good meeting with John from Senator Burr's office and played the same tape from our earlier meeting.
- play the white man
- To act with honour, decency and responsibility
- play to the gallery
- To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval
- play truant
- To be absent from school without permission
- play up
- To misbehave
Children who do not receive enough attention may begin to play up.
- play up
- To make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely or obvious; to showcase or highlight
For the audition, Nicole will play up her skill as a pianist by playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach.
- play well with others
- To habitually demonstrate social skills by engaging agreeably in social or work activities
- play with fire
- To put oneself in a precarious situation with a high risk of getting harmed, particularly emotionally or financially
I'm telling you, if you sign that paper, you're playing with fire.
- play with oneself
- To masturbate
- play-by-play
- Describing a sports commentary in which a commentator describes every action in some detail, often assisted by a second commentator who provides background information and other comments
- play-by-play announcer
- The main member of an announcing team during a sporting event broadcast; one who provides a visual description of the action on the playing field
- play-by-play announcers
- plural form of play-by-play announcer
- play the fool
- act like a fool
- play someone against someone else
- Cause someone to dispute with someone else. •
- play doh
- Play-Doh is a non-toxic compound similar in texture to bread dough that has been sold as a children's toy around the world for over half a century. Its exact makeup is a trade secret, but it is primarily a mixture of wheat flour, water, deodorized kerosene or another petroleum distillate (which provides the smooth texture), salt, a drying agent such as borax (which deters mold), an alum-based hardening agent, and colorings and perfume
- play down
- To minimize the significance of; downplay
- play somebody for a fool
- (deyim) Treat (a person) as a dupe, make a fool of, cheat
- play something by ear
- 1. Be able to play a piece of music after just listening to it a few times, without looking at the notes. 2. Play a musical instrument well, without formal training. 3. Improvise; to decide one's next steps after one is already involved in a situation
- play-by-play
- a report on what is happening in a sports game, given at the same time as the game is being played
- playable
- Of a move, giving a reasonable result; able to be played without losing
- playable
- Able to be played
- playful
- liking play, prone to play frequently, such as a child or kitten; rather sportive
Actually, we are pretty playful in our romantic life.
- playful
- funny, humorous, jesting, frolicsome
A party hat is a playful conical hat people wear at parties.
- playful
- fun, recreational, not serious
A brainteaser is a playful puzzle posed as a test of intelligence.
- playing
- An occasion on which something, such as a song or show, is played
- playful
- frolicsome
- playful
- {a} full of play, sportive, gay
- play at
- If you ask someone what they are playing at, it means you are surprised by or unhappy about their behaviour. Although you seem to be asking a question, you do not always expect an answer! "I don't know what they are playing at, losing all of those computer files." Synonyms: get up to, think of
- play out
- [for a process] run out; finish
- play along
- cooperate or pretend to cooperate; "He decided to play long with with the burglars for the moment
- play along
- perform an accompaniment to; "The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano"
- play along
- If you play along with a person, with what they say, or with their plans, you appear to agree with them and do what they want, even though you are not sure whether they are right. My mother has learnt to play along with the bizarre conversations begun by father He led the way to the lift. Fox played along, following him
- play around
- commit adultery; "he plays around a lot
- play around
- work with in a non-serious manner; "She dabbles in astronomy"; "He plays around with investments bu he never makes any money"
- play around
- If you play around with a problem or an arrangement of objects, you try different ways of organizing it in order to find the best solution or arrangement. I can play around with the pictures to make them more eye-catching
- play around
- {f} cheat on one's spouse or girl friend/boy friend, commit adultery; work with in a non-serious manner
- play around
- If you play around, you behave in a silly way to amuse yourself or other people. Stop playing around and eat! Had he taken the keys and played around with her car?
- play around
- commit adultery; "he plays around a lot"
- play at
- disapproval If you say that someone is playing at something, you disapprove of the fact that they are doing it casually and not very seriously. We were still playing at war -- dropping leaflets instead of bombs
- play at
- If you do not know what someone is playing at, you do not understand what they are doing or what they are trying to achieve. She began to wonder what he was playing at
- play at
- act as if, pretend
- play at
- If someone, especially a child, plays at being someone or doing something, they pretend to be that person or do that thing as a game. Ed played at being a pirate
- play down
- If you play down something, you try to make people believe that it is not particularly important. Western diplomats have played down the significance of the reports Both London and Dublin are playing the matter down. play up
- play down
- de-emphasize, make less important
- play down
- understate the importance or quality of; "he played down his royal ancestry"
- play off
- set into opposition or rivalry; "let them match their best athletes against ours"; "pit a chess player against the Russian champion"; "He plays his two children off against each other"
- play off
- finish a competition; play another game
- play on
- A call made by the referee during play to indicate that he/she has seen a foul but has decided not to stop the game because of the advantage clause
- play on
- play a musical instrument; use, take advantage of
- play on
- To continue play after a foul has been committed because the offensive team maintained an advantage by continuing to play Also advantage
- play on
- A term used by referees to indicate that no foul or stoppage is to be called
- play on
- If you play on someone's fears, weaknesses, or faults, you deliberately use them in order to persuade that person to do something, or to achieve what you want. an election campaign which plays on the population's fear of change = exploit
- play on
- a term used by referees to indicate that no foul or stoppage is to be called; used by referees when applying the Advantage Rule
- play out
- become spent or exhausted; "The champion's strength played out fast"
- play out
- play to a finish; "We have got to play this game out, even thought it is clear that we have last"
- play out
- perform or be performed to the end; "How will the election drama be played out?
- play out
- If a dramatic event is played out, it gradually takes place. Her union reforms were played out against a background of rising unemployment = unfold
- play out
- perform or be performed to the end; "How will the election drama be played out?"
- play out
- deplete; "exhaust one's savings"; "We quickly played out our strength"
- play truant
- {f} be absent from school without permission
- play up
- move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent; "The introduction highlighted the speaker's distinguished career in linguistics"
- play up
- If you play up something, you emphasize it and try to make people believe that it is important. The media played up the prospects for a settlement His Japanese ancestry has been played up by some of his opponents. play down
- play up
- advertise, publicize
- play up
- ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior; "She is playing up to the chairman"
- play up
- When children play up, they are naughty and difficult to control. Patrick often plays up when he knows I'm in a hurry
- play up
- If something such as a machine or a part of your body is playing up or is playing you up, it is causing problems because it is not working properly. The engine had been playing up It was his back playing him up
- playable
- {s} appropriate for playing; can be played
- playable
- capable of or suitable for being played or played on; "a playable lie in golf"; "the baseball fan reached out and caught a foul that was judged playable"; "the ball field was playable"; "harpsichord music is readily playable"- P
- playable
- of a game, able to be played and enjoyed
- playable
- Lang
- played
- (of games) engaged in; "the loosely played game
- played
- past of play
- played
- (of games) engaged in; "the loosely played game"
- playful
- full of fun and high spirits; "playful children sjust let loose from school"
- playful
- experimental
- playful
- A playful gesture or person is friendly or humorous. a playful kiss on the tip of his nose. + playfully play·ful·ly She pushed him away playfully. + playfulness play·ful·ness the child's natural playfulness
- playful
- {s} joyful, cheerful; fond of laughter and amusement; mischievous, naughty
- playful
- full of fun and high spirits; "playful children sjust let loose from school
- playful
- Sportive; gamboling; frolicsome; indulging a sportive fancy; humorous; merry; as, a playful child; a playful writer
- playful
- A playful animal is lively and cheerful. a playful puppy
- playful
- kittenish
- playfully
- In a playful manner
- playfully
- joyfully, cheerfully; mischievously; humorously, with laughter
- playfully
- in a playful manner; "she loosened the half-hoop of diamonds on her left hand third finger and held it out to him playfully
- playfulness
- the abstract quality of being playful
- playfulness
- a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement; "her playfulness surprised me"; "he was fun to be with"
- playfulness
- activities that are enjoyable or amusing; "I do it for the fun of it"; "he is fun to have around"
- playfulness
- a festive merry feeling
- playfulness
- a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement; "her playfulness surprised me"; "he was fun to be with
- playfulness
- {i} gaiety, cheerfulness; pleasantness, geniality; gladness, happiness
