Play ¹

Definition: To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.

Play ²

Definition: To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.

Play ³

Definition: To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.

Play ⁴

Definition: To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.

Play ⁵

Definition: To act; to behave; to practice deception.

Play ⁶

Definition: To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.

Play ⁷

Definition: To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.

Play ⁸

Definition: To act on the stage; to personate a character.

Play ⁹

Definition: To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.

Play ¹⁰

Definition: To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.

Play ¹¹

Definition: To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.

Play ¹²

Definition: To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.

Play ¹³

Definition: 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.

Play ¹⁴

Definition: To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball.

Play ¹⁵

Definition: To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.

Play ¹⁶

Definition: Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.

Play ¹⁷

Definition: Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.

Play ¹⁸

Definition: 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.

Play ¹⁹

Definition: Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit.

Play ²⁰

Definition: A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.

Play ²¹

Definition: The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.

Play ²²

Definition: Performance on an instrument of music.

Play ²³

Definition: Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action.

Play ²⁴

Definition: Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth.

play ²⁵

Definition: the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully

play ²⁶

Definition: play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"

play ²⁷

Definition: the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"

play ²⁸

Definition: 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"

play ²⁹

Definition: 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"

play ³⁰

Definition: a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"

play ³¹

Definition: a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"

play ³²

Definition: an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"

play ³³

Definition: utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"

play ³⁴

Definition: movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"

play ³⁵

Definition: verbal wit (often at another''s expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"

play ³⁶

Definition: a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"

play ³⁷

Definition: a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"

play ³⁸

Definition: a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"

play ³⁹

Definition: the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist''s talent"

play ⁴⁰

Definition: a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company''s stock was in play"

play ⁴¹

Definition: (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"

play ⁴²

Definition: 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"

play ⁴³

Definition: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

play ⁴⁴

Definition: exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"

play ⁴⁵

Definition: consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"

play ⁴⁶

Definition: participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

play ⁴⁷

Definition: contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"

play ⁴⁸

Definition: employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"

play ⁴⁹

Definition: use or move; "I had to play my queen"

play ⁵⁰

Definition: shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"

play ⁵¹

Definition: bet or wager (money); "He played on the new horse"; "She plays the races"

play ⁵²

Definition: 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"

play ⁵³

Definition: stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"

play ⁵⁴

Definition: make bets; "Play the reaces"; "play the casinos in Trouville"

play ⁵⁵

Definition: use to one''s advantage; "She plays on her clients'' emotions"

play ⁵⁶

Definition: discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"

play ⁵⁷

Definition: 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"

play ⁵⁸

Definition: 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"

play ⁵⁹

Definition: perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of "She has been playing on Broadway for years"

play ⁶⁰

Definition: be performed; "What''s playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats'' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

play ⁶¹

Definition: cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"

play ⁶²

Definition: emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"

play ⁶³

Definition: 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"

play ⁶⁴

Definition: perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar''"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol''"

play ⁶⁵

Definition: pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let''s play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"

play ⁶⁶

Definition: replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"

play ⁶⁷

Definition: play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"

play ⁶⁸

Definition: perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"

play ⁶⁹

Definition: move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"

play ⁷⁰

Definition: cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"

play ⁷¹

Definition: 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"

play ⁷²

Definition: engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"

play ⁷³

Definition: 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"

play ⁷⁴

Definition: behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl''s affection"

play ⁷⁵

Definition: behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"

play ⁷⁶

Definition: 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"