v.
- engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose.
▸amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence.
▸
(
play with)
treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement:
she likes to play with people's emotions.
▸tamper with something so as to damage it:
has somebody been playing with these taps?
- take part in (a sport or contest).
▸compete against.
▸take a specified position in a sports team:
he played in goal.
▸strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke).
▸move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game.
▸bet or gamble at or on.
- informal be cooperative.
- represent (a character) in a play or film.
▸give a performance at (a particular venue).
▸pretend to be:
the skipper played the innocent.
▸
(
play someone for)
treat someone as being of (a specified type):
don't imagine you can play me for a fool.
- perform on or have the skill to perform on (a musical instrument).
▸produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music).
▸make (a record player, radio, etc.) produce sounds.
- move lightly and quickly; flicker:
a smile played about her lips.
- allow (a fish) to exhaust itself on a line before reeling it in.
n.
- games and other activities engaged in for enjoyment, especially by children.
▸behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously.
- the progress of a sporting match.
▸the status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules:
the ball was put in play.
▸a move or manoeuvre in a sport or game.
- the state of being active, operative, or effective:
luck comes into play.
- a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast.
- the ability or freedom of movement in a mechanism.
- light and constantly changing movement.
- archaic gambling.
Phrase
- make a play for
informal attempt to attract or attain. - make
(great)
play of
(or with)
ostentatiously draw attention to. - make play with
treat frivolously. - play something by ear
- perform music without having seen a score.
-
(play it by ear)
informal proceed instinctively according to circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan.
- play fast and loose
behave irresponsibly or immorally. - play for time
use specious excuses or unnecessary manoeuvres to gain time. - play a
(or one's)
hunch
make an instinctive choice. - play into someone's hands
act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage. - play it cool
informal make an effort to be or appear to be unconcerned. - a play on words
a pun. - play
(it)
safe
avoid taking risks. - play with oneself
informal masturbate. - play with fire
take foolish risks.
Phrase verbal
Derivative
- playability n.
- playable adj.
Etymology
OE pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’.