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| play [ play ] |
verb (past and past participle played, present participle play·ing, 3rd person present singular plays) |
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1. intransitive verb engage in enjoyable activities: to take part in an enjoyable activity, especially a game, simply for the sake of amusement
  There were some children my mother wouldn't let me play with.
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2. transitive and intransitive verb take part in game or sport: to take part in a game or a sporting activity
likes to play football
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3. transitive verb compete against somebody: to compete against somebody in a game or sporting event
They play their biggest rival tomorrow.
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4. transitive and intransitive verb assign or have position on field: to assign a player to a particular position on the field, or be assigned such a position
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5. transitive verb hit shot: to make a shot or stroke in a sporting event
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6. transitive verb hit ball: to hit or kick a ball, puck, or birdie in a particular direction
playing the ball straight down the line
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7. transitive verb use piece or card in game: to use a card from a hand in a card game or a piece in a board game
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8. transitive and intransitive verb perform on musical instrument: to use a musical instrument to produce music
He plays the trombone.
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9. transitive verb perform musical work: to use an instrument to perform a piece of music
play a sonata
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10. transitive verb music perform composer: to perform the music of a particular composer
Chopin is notoriously difficult to play well.
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11. transitive and intransitive verb reproduce recorded music: to reproduce recorded music for listening, or be reproduced for listening
played my favorite CD
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12. transitive and intransitive verb act in particular manner: to deal with a situation in a particular way to achieve a desired result
We decided to play it safe.
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13. transitive and intransitive verb perform or be performed somewhere: to perform a play or show a movie at a particular theater, or be performed or shown there
What's playing at the Roxy?
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14. transitive verb pretend to have particular quality: to pretend to be a particular type of person
Don't play the innocent with me.
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15. transitive and intransitive verb act part in play: to portray a character in a theatrical or movie production
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16. intransitive verb make particular impression on somebody: to be received in a particular way by somebody, or make a particular impression on that person
a policy likely to play well with middle-class voters
How will it play in Peoria?
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17. transitive verb perform in particular places: to perform in particular places or types of places
plays the Catskill Mountains every summer
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18. intransitive verb act in fun: to do something for fun, not in earnest
He's only playing, he doesn't really mean it.
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19. transitive verb perform dramatic work by somebody: to perform the work of a particular dramatist
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20. transitive and intransitive verb gamble: to gamble on a game of chance such as roulette or on horse races
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21. transitive verb speculate in market: to speculate with securities or commodities in a market
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22. transitive and intransitive verb move irregularly over surface: to move unsteadily or irregularly over a surface, usually in a pleasing way, or cause something to do this
sunlight playing on her brown hair
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23. transitive verb let fish pull on line: to tire an already hooked fish by letting it pull on the line as it tries to escape
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24. transitive and intransitive verb direct light or water: to direct light or water over a surface or in a particular direction, or be directed in this manner
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noun (plural plays) |
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| Definition: |
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1. enjoyable activities: activities bringing amusement or enjoyment, especially the spontaneous activity of young children or young animals
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often used before a noun
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young cubs at play
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2. action or move in game: an action or move in a game
drilled the team in several new offensive plays
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3. turn in game: somebody's turn to move in a game
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4. handling of shot or move: a player's handling of a shot or move or use of a piece or card
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5. action during game: the action during a game or series of games
The play was skilled during the first half but then the team began to tire.
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6. status of ball: the position or status of the ball or puck during a game, with regard to whether or not play can, according to the rules, legally continue
The ball was ruled to be out of play.
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7. effective operation: a state in which something is effective, operative, or exercises an influence
The experts will come into play when the committee resumes its deliberations.
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8. gambling: participation in betting or gambling
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9. ploy: a ploy or deceptive act
The defendant's tears were just a play for your sympathy.
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10. dramatic composition: a dramatic work written to be performed by actors on the stage, television, or radio
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11. pun: a pun on a word
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12. flickering movement: flickering or shimmering movement, especially of light through or on something
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13. activity: the free-ranging and varied activity of something, e.g. the imagination
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14. looseness: the amount of looseness in something such as a rope, or the room for free movement between parts of a mechanism
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15. scope: the freedom to operate given to something or somebody
gave free play to his inventiveness
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| [ Old English pleg(i)an< Germanic, "to risk, exercise"] |
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make a play for somebody or something to try openly to attract somebody or gain something
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play fair to act in an honest and reasonable way
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play fast and loose to act irresponsibly or recklessly without regard to facts or others' feelings
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play hard to get to avoid agreeing to a suggestion, invitation, or proposal, with the intention of appearing to be desirable or in demand
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play it by ear to improvise or adapt your response to a situation as it occurs rather than make plans in advance
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play it safe to exercise caution and take few risks
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