Noun
1. a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage;
"he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"2. a theatrical performance of a drama;
"the play lasted two hours"3. a preset plan of action in team sports;
"the coach drew up the plays for her team"4. a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill;
"he made a great maneuver""the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"5. a state in which action is feasible;
"the ball was still in play""insiders said the company's stock was in play"6. utilization or exercise;
"the play of the imagination"7. an attempt to get something;
"they made a futile play for power""he made a bid to gain attention"8. play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules;
"Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"9. (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds;
"rain stopped play in the 4th inning"10. the removal of constraints;
"he gave free rein to his impulses""they gave full play to the artist's talent"11. a weak and tremulous light;
"the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers""the play of light on the water"12. verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously);
"he became a figure of fun"13. movement or space for movement;
"there was too much play in the steering wheel"14. 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"15. 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"16. the activity of doing something in an agreed succession;
"it is my turn""it is still my play"17. the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
Verb
1. participate in games or sport;
"We played hockey all afternoon""play cards""Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"2. 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"3. play on an instrument;
"The band played all night long"4. 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"5. 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"6. replay (as a melody);
"Play it again, Sam""She played the third movement very beautifully"7. perform music on (a musical instrument);
"He plays the flute""Can you play on this old recorder?"8. pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind;
"He acted the idiot""She plays deaf when the news are bad"9. move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly;
"The spotlights played on the politicians"10. bet or wager (money);
"He played $20 on the new horse""She plays the races"11. engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion;
"On weekends I play""The students all recreate alike"12. pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity;
"Let's play like I am mommy""Play cowboy and Indians"13. emit recorded sound;
"The tape was playing for hours""the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"14. perform on a certain location;
"The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16""She has been playing on Broadway for years"15. 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"16. 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"17. behave in a certain way;
"play safe""play it safe""play fair"18. cause to emit recorded sounds;
"They ran the tapes over and over again""Can you play my favorite record?"19. 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"20. use to one's advantage;
"She plays on her clients' emotions"21. consider not very seriously;
"He is trifling with her""She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"22. 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"23. behave carelessly or indifferently;
"Play about with a young girl's affection"24. cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space;
"The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"25. perform on a stage or theater;
"She acts in this play""He acted in `Julius Caesar'""I played in `A Christmas Carol'"26. be performed;
"What's playing in the local movie theater?""`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"27. 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"28. discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream;
"play water from a hose""The fountains played all day"29. make bets;
"Play the reaces""play the casinos in Trouville"30. stake on the outcome of an issue;
"I bet $100 on that new horse""She played all her money on the dark horse"31. shoot or hit in a particular manner;
"She played a good backhand last night"32. use or move;
"I had to play my queen"33. employ in a game or in a specific position;
"They played him on first base"34. contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;
"Princeton plays Yale this weekend""Charlie likes to play Mary"35. exhaust by allowing to pull on the line;
"play a hooked fish"