Definition: Meaning of, play in English to English dictionary.
Pronunciation:/ pleɪ /
verb
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Word Forms:
Prsesent
Past
Past Participle
play
played
played
Present Participle
Third Person Singular
playing
plays
children[intransitive and transitive] when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often with other people or with toys
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sports/games[intransitive and transitive] to take part or compete in a game or sport
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sports/games[transitive] to use a particular piece, card, person etc in a game or sport
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sports/games[intransitive and transitive] to take a particular position on a team
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sports/games[transitive] to hit a ball in a particular way or to a particular place in a game or sport
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music[intransitive and transitive] to perform a piece of music on a musical instrument
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radio/cd etc[intransitive and transitive] if a radio, CD etc plays, or if you play it, it produces sound, especially music
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theatre/film[transitive] to perform the actions and say the words of a particular character in a theatre performance, film etc
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theatre/film[intransitive] if a play or film is playing at a particular theatre, it is being performed or shown there
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theatre/film[transitive] if actors play a theatre, they perform there in a play
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play a part/role to have an effect or influence on something
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play ball to throw, kick, hit, or catch a ball as a game or activity
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play ball to do what someone wants you to do
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pretend[linking verb] to behave as if you are a particular kind of person or have a particular feeling or quality, even though it is not true
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behave[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to behave in a particular way in a situation, in order to achieve the result or effect that you want
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play games to hide your real feelings or wishes in order to achieve something in a clever or secret way - used to show disapproval
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play something by ear to decide what to do according to the way a situation develops, without making plans before that time
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play something by ear if someone can play a musical instrument by ear, they can play a tune without looking at written music
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play a joke/trick/prank on somebody to do something to someone as a joke or trick
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play the game to do things in the way you are expected to do them or in a way that is usual in a particular situation
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play the gameBritish English to behave in a fair and honest way
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play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card to use a particular subject in politics in order to gain an advantage
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play your cards right to say or do things in a situation in such a way that you gain as much as possible from it
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play your cards close to your chest to keep secret what you are doing in a situation
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play into somebody's hands to do what someone you are competing with wants you to do, without realizing it
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play for time to try to delay something so that you have more time to prepare for it or prevent it from happening
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play tricks (on you) if your mind, memory, sight etc plays tricks on you, you feel confused and not sure about what is happening
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play the market to risk money on the STOCK MARKET as a way of trying to earn more money
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play the system to use the rules of a system in a clever way, to gain advantage for yourself
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play second fiddle (to somebody) to be in a lower position or rank than someone else
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play hard to get to pretend that you are not sexually interested in someone so that they will become more interested in you
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smile[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]written if a smile plays about someone's lips, they smile slightly
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play hookyAmerican EnglishBritish English to stay away from school without permission
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play with fire to do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result
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light[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]written if light plays on something, it shines on it and moves on it
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water[intransitive]written if a FOUNTAIN plays, water comes from it
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play the field to have sexual relationships with a lot of different people
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play fast and loose with something to not be careful about what you do, especially by not obeying the law or a rule
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play a hose/light on something to point a HOSE or light towards something so that water or light goes onto it
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synonym
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noun
synonym
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Word Forms:
Singular
Plural
play
plays
theatre[countable] a story that is written to be performed by actors, especially in a theatre
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amusement[uncountable] things that people, especially children, do for amusement rather than as work
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effect[uncountable] the effect or influence of something
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action in a game or sport[uncountable] the actions of the people who are playing a game or sport
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action in a game or sport[countable] one particular action or set of actions during a game
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in play/out of play if a ball is in play or out of play, it is inside or outside the area in which the rules of the game allow you to hit, kick, catch etc the ball
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play on words a use of a word that is interesting or amusing because it can be understood as having two very different meanings [= pun]
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play of light patterns made by light as it moves over a surface
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make a play for something to make an attempt to gain something
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make a play for somebody to try to begin a romantic or sexual relationship with someone
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looseness[uncountable] if there is some play in something, it is loose and can be moved
the action of making two runners in a game of BASEball have to leave the field by throwing the ball quickly from one BASE to another before the runners reach either one
play someone off against someone if you play two people off against each other, you try to cause an argument between them because you think that this will give you more power or control in a situation