Scrabble Dictionary

Yes

Meaning of play

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1 definition found

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  play
      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: {play}, {drama}, {dramatic play}]
      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 maneuver"; "the runner was out on a
         play by the shortstop" [syn: {maneuver}, {manoeuvre}, {play}]
      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},
         {play}]
      8: activity by children that is guided more by imagination than
         by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a
         small child" [syn: {play}, {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}, {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}, {play}]
      11: a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on
          iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water" [syn:
          {shimmer}, {play}]
      12: verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to
          be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said
          it in sport" [syn: {fun}, {play}, {sport}]
      13: movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in
          the steering wheel" [syn: {looseness}, {play}] [ant:
          {tautness}, {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: {play}, {frolic},
          {romp}, {gambol}, {caper}]
      15: (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed
          succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" [syn:
          {turn}, {play}]
      16: 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},
          {play}]
      17: the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and
          skillfully [syn: {play}, {swordplay}]
      v 1: participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all
           afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian
           teams in many important matches"
      2: act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific
         effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in
         his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I
         played no role in your dismissal"
      3: play 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"; "She
         played the servant to her husband's master" [syn: {act},
         {play}, {represent}]
      5: be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in
         a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing
         outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little
         girl"
      6: replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the
         third movement very beautifully" [syn: {play}, {spiel}]
      7: perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the
         flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
      8: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted
         the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad" [syn:
         {act}, {play}, {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: {play}, {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: emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the
          stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
      14: perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie
          Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway
          for years"
      15: put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act
          strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards
          close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to
          play before they will concede the electoral victory"
      16: engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take
          it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play
          the stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an
          idea" [syn: {play}, {toy}]
      17: behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play
          fair"
      18: cause to emit recorded audio or video; "They ran the tapes
          over and over again"; "I'll play you my favorite record";
          "He never tires of playing that video" [syn: {play}, {run}]
      19: manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination; "She
          played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with
          the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the
          Senate" [syn: {toy}, {fiddle}, {diddle}, {play}]
      20: use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"
      21: consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She
          plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania" [syn: {dally},
          {trifle}, {play}]
      22: be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way;
          "This speech didn't play well with the American public";
          "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"
      23: behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young
          girl's affection" [syn: {dally}, {toy}, {play}, {flirt}]
      24: cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The
          engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
      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}, {play}, {roleplay}, {playact}]
      26: be performed or presented for public viewing; "What's
          playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been
          playing on Broadway for many years"
      27: cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "I cannot work
          a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke";
          "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area" [syn:
          {bring}, {work}, {play}, {wreak}, {make for}]
      28: discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a
          continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains
          played all day"
      29: make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
      30: stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new
          horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse" [syn:
          {bet}, {wager}, {play}]
      31: shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good
          backhand last night"
      32: use or move; "I had to play my queen"
      33: employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him
          on first base"
      34: contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;
          "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play
          Mary" [syn: {meet}, {encounter}, {play}, {take on}]
      35: exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked
          fish"

WordNet ® Princeton University. http://wordnet.princeton.edu