play

verb

• 1 [no object] engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose:the children were playing by a pool her friends were playing with their dolls
• [with object] engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment:I want to play Snakes and Ladders
• amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence:the boys were playing at soldiers
• (play at) engage in without proper seriousness or understanding:it would be wrong to assume that he is simply playing at right-wing politics
• (play with) treat inconsiderately for one’s own amusement:she likes to play with people’s emotions
• (play with) fiddle or tamper with:has somebody been playing with these taps?
• [with negative or in questions] (be playing at) used to convey one’s irritation at someone’s actions or one’s failure to understand their motives:what on earth do you think you’re playing at?

• 2 [with object] take part in (a sport):I play squash and badminton
• participate in (a sporting match or contest):the squad will have played 14 games in six weeks
• compete against (another player or team) in a sporting match:the team will play France on Wednesday
• [no object] be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a sporting contest:he played in goal
• strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game: was he in an offside position when his teammate played the ball?
• [no object, with adverbial] (of a cricket ground) be in such condition as to have a specified effect on play.
• assign to take part in a match, especially in a specified position:the manager played his strongest side of the season
• move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one’s turn in a game:he played his queen
• bet or gamble at or on:he didn’t gamble or play the ponies

• 3 [no object, usually with negative] be cooperative:he needs financial backing, but the building societies won’t play

• 4 [with object] represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film:early in her career she played Ophelia
• [no object] perform in a film or theatrical production:he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor
• put on or take part in (a theatrical performance, film, or concert):the show was one of the best we ever played
• give a dramatic performance at (a particular theatre or place): the company are playing 11 cities around the country
• behave as though one were (a specified type of person):the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel
• (play someone for) treat someone as being of (a specified type):don’t imagine you can play me for a fool

• 5 [with object] perform on (a musical instrument):a man was playing a guitar
• possess the skill of performing on (a musical instrument):he taught himself to play the violin
• produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music):they played a violin sonata
• make (a music player, disc, radio, etc.) produce sounds: someone is playing a record—I can hear the drum
• [no object] (of a musical instrument, music player, radio, etc.) produce sounds:somewhere within, a harp was playing
• [with object and adverbial of direction] accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction:the bagpipes played them out of the dining room

• 6 [no object] move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker:little beams of light played over the sea
• (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water: a fountain played in the courtyard

• 7 [with object] allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in: no fisherman ever played a bonita more carefully or with greater wile

noun

• 1activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children:a child at play may use a stick as an aeroplane
• behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously:I flinched, but only in play
• [as modifier] designed to be used in games of pretence; not real:play families are arranged in play houses

• 2the conducting of a sporting match:rain wrecked the second day’s play
• the action or manner of engaging in a sport or game:he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game
• the status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules:the ball was put in play
• the state of being active, operative, or effective: someone has a bright idea and decides to put it into play the forces of a worldwide economy are in play
• [count noun] a move or manoeuvre in a sport or game:the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs
• archaic the activity of gambling: a young nobleman, ruined by play

• 3 [count noun] a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast:the actors put on a new play

• 4the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move:the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play
• scope or freedom to act or operate:our policy allows the market to have freer play

• 5light and constantly changing movement:the artist exploits the play of light across the surface