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play

1 play /ˈpleɪ/ verb
plays; played; playing
1 play
/ˈpleɪ/
verb
plays; played; playing
Britannica Dictionary definition of PLAY
: to do activities for fun or enjoyment
[no object]
often + with
[+ object]
◊ If children play teacher/school (etc.), they play by pretending to be adults.
see also play house at 1house
: to participate in (a game or sport)
[+ object]
[no object]
often + for
◊ If you play for a particular team, you are a member of that team.
: to compete against (someone) in a game
[+ object]
[no object]
◊ If you play (someone) for (something), you play a game in which the winner will be able to take or keep something.
[+ object] : to have (a particular position on a sports team)
[+ object] : to allow (someone) to play during a game especially in a particular position
[+ object] : to place (a playing card) on the table during your turn in a card game often used figuratively
see also play your cards close to the chest/vest at 1card, play your cards right at 1card
[+ object] : to move (a piece) during your turn in a chess game
[+ object] : to hit, kick, throw, or catch (a ball, puck, etc.)
[+ object]
: to bet money on (something)
: to invest money in (the stock market) in order to try to earn money
: to perform music on (an instrument)
[+ object]
[no object]
[no object] of an instrument : to produce music
[+ object] : to perform (a song, a piece of music, etc.) on an instrument
[+ object] : to perform music written by (a particular composer)
: to perform music in (a particular place)
[+ object]
[no object]
: to cause (a song, a piece of music, a movie, etc.) to be heard or seen
[+ object]
[no object]
[no object] : to be shown or performed usually more than one time
[+ object] : to act the part of (a particular character) in a film, play, etc.
often used figuratively
often used with part or role
see also role-play
[no object] : to pretend that you have a particular quality or are in a particular condition
: to act or behave in a particular way
[no object]
[+ object]
see also play by ear at 1ear
[no object] : to do or say things in a joking way
often + around
10 
[+ object] : to do (something) to someone in order to amuse yourself or others
usually + on
11 
[+ object] informal : to use or control (someone or something) in a clever and unfair way
often + for
12 
[+ object] : to base a decision or action on (something)
13 
[no object] US : to be accepted or received in a particular way
often + with
14 
[no object] : to move in a lively and irregular way

play along

[phrasal verb]
: to agree to do or accept what other people want
often + with

play around

[phrasal verb] also British play about
: to have sex with someone who is not your husband, wife, or regular partner
often + on often + with
: to deal with or treat something in a careless way
often + with
: to use or do something in a way that is not very serious
often + on
often + with
play around with (something) : to move or change (something) or to think about (something) in different ways often in order to find out what would work best
see also 1play 9 (above)

play at

[phrasal verb]
play at (something)
: to do (something) in a way that is not serious
chiefly British : to play by pretending to be (someone or something)
often used in the phrase play at being (something)
British used to say in an annoyed way that you do not know the reason for someone's behavior

play back

[phrasal verb]
play back (something) or play (something) back
: to cause (recorded sounds or pictures) to be heard or seen
see also playback

play ball

see 1ball

play down

[phrasal verb]
play down (something) or play (something) down
: to make (something) seem smaller or less important

play fast and loose

: to behave in a clever and dishonest way usually + with

play for laughs

or play (something) for laughs
: to act in a funny way that makes people laugh

play for time

: to try to make something happen later instead of sooner : to try to delay something

play games

see 1game

play God

usually disapproving
: to make decisions that have a very powerful and important effect on other people's lives

play hard to get

: to pretend that you are not interested in having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone in order to make that person more attracted to you

play into

[phrasal verb]
play into (something)
: to help support (something, such as an idea)

play into someone's hands

or play into the hands of someone
: to do something that you do not realize will hurt you and help someone else

play off

[phrasal verb]
chiefly British : to participate in a game that decides a winner from people or teams that had the same results in an earlier game : to play in a play-off see also play-off
play off (someone or something) US : to react to (someone or something) in a pleasing way : to combine with (someone or something) in a way that makes each part better
play (someone or something) off against (someone or something) : to cause two people or groups to fight or compete with each other in a way that helps you

play on

[phrasal verb] also play upon
play on/upon (something)
: to make people do what you want by using (their emotions, fears, concerns, etc.) in an unfair way

play out

[phrasal verb]
: to happen or occur in usually a gradual way
play out (something) or play (something) out : to make (something) happen
play out (something) or play (something) out : to finish (something)
see also played-out

play the field

: to have romantic or sexual relationships with more than one person at a time : to date more than one person

play the fool

see 1fool

play to

[phrasal verb]
play to (someone or something) : to behave or perform in a particular way for (someone or something) in order to get approval or attention
play to (something) : to make use of (something)

play to the gallery

see gallery

play up

[phrasal verb]
play up (something) or play (something) up
: to talk about or treat (something) in a way that gives it special importance : to emphasize or stress (something)
: to make (something) seem bigger or more important
play up or play (someone) up British : to cause problems or pain

play with

[phrasal verb]
play with (something)
: to move or handle (something) with your hands or fingers often without thinking
: to handle, change, or deal with (something) in a careless way
: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously

play with fire

: to do something that is risky or dangerous

play with words/language

: to use words that sound similar or that have several different meanings especially in a clever or funny way

play with yourself

: to touch your own sex organs for sexual pleasure : masturbate
2 play /ˈpleɪ/ noun
plural plays
2 play
/ˈpleɪ/
noun
plural plays
Britannica Dictionary definition of PLAY
[count] : a piece of writing that tells a story through the actions and words of characters and that is performed on a stage
see also mystery play, passion play, screenplay
[noncount] : activities that are done especially by children for fun or enjoyment
see also child's play
[noncount] : the action that happens during a game
: the time when a person playing a game is supposed to do something
[count]
[noncount]
[count] US : a particular action or set of actions that happens during a game: such as
American football : a planned attempt to move the ball forward or to stop an opponent from moving the ball forward
baseball : an action that is done to try to get a player out often used with make
see also double play, triple play
: the act of moving a piece in a game like chess or checkers
[noncount] : the state of being active or having an effect
[noncount]
: time when a musical recording is played by a radio station : airplay
US : attention in newspapers, on television, etc.
[count] : a humorous or clever way of using a word or phrase so that more than one meaning is suggested + on
see also wordplay
[noncount]
: a function of a machine that causes recorded sounds or pictures to be heard or seen
: time when a machine is being used to hear or see recorded sounds or pictures
[singular] : the irregular or lively movement of something
10 
[noncount] : loose and free movement of something (such as part of a machine)

in/into play

of a ball
: in or into the area where players must stay in sports

make a play for

: to try to get (someone or something)

out of play

of a ball
: outside the area where players must stay in sports
see also fair play, foul play, power play