play
[ pley ]
/ pleɪ /
noun
a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
a dramatic performance, as on the stage.
exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.
fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness: I said it merely in play.
a pun.
the playing, action, or conduct of a game: The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play.
the manner or style of playing or of doing something: We admired his fine play throughout the game.
an act or instance of playing or of doing something: a stupid play that cost us the match.
one's turn to play: Whose play is it?
a playing for stakes; gambling.
an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver: They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play.
an enterprise or venture; deal: an oil and drilling play.
action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind: fair play; foul play.
action, activity, or operation: the play of fancy.
brisk, light, or changing movement or action: a fountain with a leaping play of water.
elusive change or movement, as of light or colors: the play of a searchlight against the night sky.
a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move.
freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism.
freedom for action, or scope for activity: full play of the mind.
attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news: The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers.
an act or instance of being broadcast: The governor's speech got two plays on our local station.
verb (used with object)
to act the part of (a person or character) in a dramatic performance; portray: to play Lady Macbeth.
to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.) on or as if on the stage.
to act or sustain (a part) in a dramatic performance or in real life: to play the role of benefactor.
to act the part or character of in real life: to play the fool; to play God.
to give performances in, as a theatrical company does: to play the larger cities.
to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.).
to contend against in a game.
to function or perform as (a specified player) in a game or competition: He usually plays left end.
to employ (a piece of equipment, a player, etc.) in a game: I played my highest card.
to use as if in playing a game, as for one's own advantage: He played his brothers against each other.
to stake or wager, as in a game.
to lay a wager or wagers on (something).
to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest: to play cowboys and Indians.
to perform on (a musical instrument).
to perform (music) on an instrument.
to cause (a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to produce sound or pictures: to play a tape; to play the radio.
to do or perform: You shouldn't play tricks. Compromise plays an important part in marriage.
to carry or put into operation; act upon: to play a hunch.
to cause to move or change lightly or quickly: to play colored lights on a fountain.
to operate or cause to operate, especially continuously or with repeated action: to play a hose on a fire.
to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line.
to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), especially prominently: Play the flood photos on page one.
to exploit or trade in (an investment, business opportunity, stock, etc.).
verb (used without object)
to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation.
to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously.
to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often followed by with).
to take part or engage in a game.
to take part in a game for stakes; gamble.
to conduct oneself or act in a specified way: to play fair.
to act on or as if on the stage; perform.
to perform on a musical instrument.
(of an instrument or music) to sound in performance: The strings are playing well this evening.
(of a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to give forth sound: The radio played all night.
to be performed or shown: What's playing at the movie theater around the corner?
to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script: We hope this scene will play well.
Informal.
to be accepted or effective; fare: How will the senator's proposal play with the public?
to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism.
to move about lightly or quickly: The water of the fountain played in the air.
to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance: The lights played strangely over the faces of the actors.
to operate continuously or with repeated action.
Informal.
to comply or cooperate: They wanted her to tell them what she knew about the plans, but she refused to play.
Verb Phrases
play along,
- to cooperate or concur; go along.
- to pretend to cooperate or concur.
play around, Informal.
- to behave in a playful or frivolous manner; fool around.
- to be sexually promiscuous.
- to be sexually unfaithful.
play at,
- to pretend interest in: It's obvious that you're just playing at fishing for my sake.
- to do something without seriousness: He is merely playing at being a student.
play back,
to play (a recording, especially one newly made): Play it back and let's hear how I sound.
play down,
to treat as of little importance; belittle: He has consistently played down his own part in the successful enterprise.
play off,
- Sports. to play an extra game or round in order to settle a tie.
- Sports. to engage in an elimination game or games after the regular season is over in order to determine the champion.
- to set (one person or thing) against another, usually for one's own gain or advantage: The children could usually get what they wanted by playing one parent off against the other.
play on/upon,
to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of: She would never think of playing on the good nature of others.
play out,
- to bring to an end; finish.
- to use up; exhaust: to play out one's supplies.
- to reel or pay out, as a rope, line, etc.
play up,
to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize: The schools are playing up their science programs.
Idioms for play
bring into play,
to put into motion; cause to be introduced: New evidence has been brought into play in this trial.
come to play, Informal.
to be disposed to play or participate in a manner reflecting a determination to win or succeed: We're a small new business, but we came to play.
- to try to attract, especially sexually: He made a play for his friend's girlfriend.
- to attempt to gain by impressing favorably: This ad will make a play for new consumer markets.
- exhausted; weary.
- out of fashion; hackneyed: New styles in clothing are soon played out in New York.
- used up; finished: The original tires were played out and had to be replaced.
in/out of play,
in or not in the state of being played during a game: The umpire says the ball was not in play.
make a play for, Informal.
play ball.
ball1(def 25).
play both ends against the middle,
to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself.
play by ear,
to play (music or a musical instrument) without printed music, as by memory of what one has heard or by unschooled musical instinct.
played out,
play fast and loose,
to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner, especially to employ deception to gain one's ends: to play fast and loose with someone's affections.
play for time,
to prolong something in order to gain an advantage; forestall an event or decision: Their maneuvering at the conference was obviously calculated to play for time.
play hardball.
hardball(def 4).
play into the hands of,
to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, especially an opponent): If you lose your temper when he insults you, you will be playing right into his hands.
Also play into (someone's) hands.
play it by ear,
to improvise, especially in a challenging situation when confronted by unknown factors: If you can't come up with a plan, we'll just have to play it by ear.
play it safe,
to act cautiously; avoid risk or danger: She usually plays it safe on the red carpet, wearing simple, classic designs.
Also play safe.
play one's cards.
card1(def 22).
play politics.
politics(def 8).
play possum.
possum(def 3).
play second fiddle.
second fiddle(def 1).
play the field.
field(def 39).
play the game.
game1(def 27).
play up to, Informal.
to attempt to impress in order to gain someone's favor: Students who too obviously play up to their teachers are usually disliked by their classmates.
play with a full deck.
deck(def 23).
play with fire.
fire(def 54).
play with oneself, Informal.
to masturbate.
Origin of play
before 900; (noun) Middle English
pleye, Old English
plega; (v.) Middle English
pleyen, Old English
pleg(i)an (cognate with Middle Dutch
pleien to leap for joy, dance, rejoice, be glad)
SYNONYMS FOR play
2
show.
3
diversion,
pastime.
Play,
game,
sport refer to forms of diverting activity.
Play is the general word for any such form of activity, often undirected, spontaneous, or random:
Childhood should be a time for play.
Game refers to a recreational contest, mental or physical, usually governed by set rules:
a game of chess. Besides referring to an individual contest,
game may refer to a pastime as a whole:
Golf is a good game. If, however, the pastime is one (usually an outdoor one) depending chiefly on physical strength, though not necessarily a contest, the word
sport is applied:
Football is a vigorous sport.
18, 19 liberty.
23 enact.
25 personate, impersonate.
30 use.
32 bet.
33 back.
45 sport, frolic, romp, revel.
47 dally.
OTHER WORDS FROM play
play·ing·ly, adverb
play·less, adjective
play·like, adjective
coun·ter·play, noun
non·play·ing, adjective
self-play·ing, adjective
un·played, adjective
un·play·ing, adjective
well-played, adjective
Words nearby play
Words related to play it by ear
British Dictionary definitions for play it by ear
play
/ (pleɪ) /
verb
to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)
(tr)
to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or game
Ed played Tony at chess and lost
to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team game
he plays defence; he plays in the defence
(tr)
to address oneself to (a ball) in a game
play the ball not the man
(intr; often foll by about or around)
to behave carelessly, esp in a way that is unconsciously cruel or hurtful; trifle or dally (with)
to play about with a young girl's affections
(when intr, often foll by at)
to perform or act the part (of) in or as in a dramatic production; assume or simulate the role (of)
to play the villain; just what are you playing at?
to act out or perform (a dramatic production)
to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place
(intr)
to be received
How will these policies play in Middle England?
to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument)
David plays the harp
to perform (on a musical instrument) as specified
he plays out of tune
(tr)
- to reproduce (a tune, melody, piece of music, note, etc) on an instrument
- to perform works by (a specific composer)to play Brahms
to discharge or cause to discharge
he played the water from the hose onto the garden
to operate, esp to cause (a record player, radio, etc) to emit sound or (of a record player, radio, etc) to emit (sound)
he played a record; the radio was playing loudly
to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularly
lights played on the scenery
(tr) stock exchange
to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)
(tr) angling
to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod's flexibility
to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play
to gamble (money) on a game
play ball informal
to cooperate
play fair or play fair with someone
to prove oneself fair in one's dealings
play false or play fair with someone
to prove oneself unfair in one's dealings
play by ear See ear 1 (def. 19)
play for time
to delay the outcome of some activity so as to gain time to one's own advantage
play into the hands of
to act directly to the advantage of (an opponent)
play the fool See fool 1 (def. 7)
play the game See game 1 (def. 22)
noun
a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama
- the performance of a dramatic composition
- (in combination)playreader
- games, exercise, or other activity undertaken for pleasure, diversion, etc, esp by children
- (in combination)playroom
- (as modifier)play dough
manner of action, conduct, or playing
fair play
the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progress
rain stopped play
US and Canadian
a move or manoeuvre in a game
a brilliant play
the situation of a ball that is within the defined area and being played according to the rules (in the phrases in play, out of play)
a turn to play
it's my play
the act of playing for stakes; gambling
action, activity, or operation
the play of the imagination
freedom of or scope or space for movement
too much play in the rope
light, free, or rapidly shifting motion
the play of light on the water
fun, jest, or joking
I only did it in play
call into play
to bring into operation
make a play for informal
- to make an obvious attempt to gain
- to attempt to attract or seduce
Derived forms of play
playability, noun playable, adjectiveWord Origin for play
Old English
plega (n),
plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch
pleyen
Cultural definitions for play it by ear
play it by ear
To improvise: “Rather than plan an elaborate strategy, Andy decided to play it by ear.” Music played by ear does not follow written notes.
Idioms and Phrases with play it by ear
play
In addition to the idioms beginning with play
- play along
- play a losing game
- play around
- play at
- play a waiting game
- play back
- play ball
- play both ends against the middle
- play by ear
- play cat and mouse
- play down
- played out
- play fair
- play false
- play fast and loose
- play footsie
- play for
- play for keeps
- play for laughs
- play for time
- play games
- play hardball
- play hard to get
- play havoc
- play hide and seek
- play hooky
- play in Peoria
- play into the hands of
- play it close to one's chest
- play it cool
- play it safe
- play musical chairs
- play off
- play on
- play one's cards close to one's chest
- play one's cards right
- play one's trump card
- play on words
- play out
- play politics
- play possum
- play safe
- play second fiddle
- play the devil with
- play the field
- play the fool
- play the game
- play the heavy
- play the market
- play to the gallery
- play up
- play upon
- play up to
- play with fire
also see:
- all work and no play
- child's play
- devil's advocate, play
- fair play
- foul play
- game that two can play
- grandstand play
- in play
- make a play for
- musical chairs, play
- squeeze play
- trump card, play one's