play

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English plega; akin to Old English plegan to play, Middle Dutch pleyen Date: before 12th century 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: 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. the moving of a piece in a board game (as chess) g. one's turn in a game <

it's your play

> 2. a. obsolete sexual intercourse b. amorous flirtation ; dalliance 3. a. recreational activity; especially the spontaneous activity of children b. absence of serious or harmful intent ; jest <

said it in play

> c. the act or an instance of playing on words or speech sounds d. gaming, gambling 4. a. (1) an act, way, or manner of proceeding ; maneuver <

that was a play to get your fingerprints — Erle Stanley Gardner

> (2) deal, venture b. (1) the state of being active, operative, or relevant <

other motives surely come into play — M. R. Cohen

> <

several issues are at play

> (2) brisk, fitful, or light movement <

the gem presented a dazzling play of colors

> (3) free or unimpeded motion (as of a part of a machine); also the length or measure of such motion (4) scope or opportunity for action (5) a function of an electronic device that causes a recording to play 5. emphasis or publicity especially in the news media <

wished the country received a better play in the American press — Hugh MacLennan

> 6. a move or series of moves calculated to arouse friendly feelings — usually used with make <

made a big play for the girl — Will Herman

> 7. a. the stage representation of an action or story b. a dramatic composition ; drama Synonyms: see fun II. intransitive verb Date: before 12th century 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 • playability noun • playable adjective