play
adj : imagined as in a play; "the make-believe world of theater";
"play money"; "dangling their legs in the water to
catch pretend fish" [syn: {make-believe}, {play(a)}, {pretend}]
n 1: a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a
stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced
on Broadway" [syn: {drama}]
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 play" [syn: {maneuver}, {manoeuvre}]
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" [syn: {bid}]
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" [syn: {child's play}]
9: (in games or plays or other performances) the time during
which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
[syn: {playing period}, {period of play}]
10: the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his
impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"
[syn: {free rein}]
11: a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on
iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
[syn: {shimmer}]
12: verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken
seriously); "he became a figure of fun" [syn: {fun}, {sport}]
13: movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in
the steering wheel" [syn: {looseness}] [ant: {tightness}]
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" [syn: {frolic}, {romp},
{gambol}, {caper}]
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" [syn: {gambling}, {gaming}]
16: the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it
is my turn" or "it is still my play" [syn: {turn}]
17: the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and
skillfully
v 1: play games, play sports; "We played hockey all afternoon";
"play cards"
2: act in a specified way; "This factor played only a minor
part in his decision"
3: play (music) 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" [syn:
{act}, {represent}]
5: be at play; be engaged in playful activity; typical of
children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used
to play with trucks as a little girl"
6: as of melodies; "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third
movement very beautifully" [syn: {spiel}, {render}]
7: perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the
flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?" [syn: {play
on}]
8: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He
acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
[syn: {act}, {act as}]
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" [syn: {recreate}]
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: cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "wreak havoc";
"bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief
to the drought-stricken area" [syn: {bring}, {work}, {wreak},
{make for}]
14: perform on a certain location: "He played the casinos in Las
Vegas"
15: put (a card or piece) into play during a game: "He is
playing his cards close to his chest"
16: engage in an activity as if it were a game: "They played
games on their opponents"
17: behave in a certain way; "play safe," "play it safe"; "Play
into the hands of"
18: cause to be played: "They ran the tapes over and over again"
[syn: {run}]
19: manipulate manually with no purpose or aim; often without
being conscious of doing so; "She played nervously with
her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws" [syn: {toy},
{fiddle}, {diddle}]
20: use to one's advantage; "She palys on her clients' emotions"
21: consider not very seriously; "He is trifiling with her";
"She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania" [syn:
{dally}, {trifle}]
22: be received or accepted; "This speech didn't play well with
the American public"
23: behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young
girl's affection" [syn: {dally}, {toy}, {flirt}]
24: cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space, as
of machinery
25: perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He
acted in "Julius Caesar"; "I played in "A Christmas
Carol" [syn: {act}, {roleplay}, {playact}]
26: be performed; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"
27: discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a
continuous stream: "play water from a hose"; "The
fountains played all day"
28: contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;
"Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to
play Mary" [syn: {meet}, {encounter}, {take on}]
29: exhaust (a hooked fish) by allowing it to pull on the line