play plā/Submit verb verb: play; 3rd person present: plays; past tense: played; past participle: played; gerund or present participle: playing 1. engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. the children were playing outside synonyms: amuse oneself, entertain oneself, enjoy oneself, have fun; More engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment. I want to play Monopoly synonyms: take part in, participate in, be involved in, compete in, do I used to play hockey amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretense. the boys were playing cops and robbers engage in without proper seriousness or understanding. stars who play at being ordinary treat inconsiderately for ones own amusement. she likes to play with peoples emotions fiddle or tamper with. has somebody been playing with the thermostat? 2. take part in (a sport). I play softball and tennis synonyms: take part in, participate in, be involved in, compete in, do I used to play hockey participate in (an athletic match or contest). the Red Sox will play two games on Wednesday synonyms: take part in, participate in, be involved in, compete in, do I used to play hockey compete against (another player or team) in an athletic match or contest. the team will play France on Wednesday synonyms: compete against, take on, challenge, vie with, face, go up against St. Josephs plays Boston on Sunday informal be cooperative. he needs financial backing, but the bank wont play be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a game. he played shortstop strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game. assign to take part in an athletic contest, especially in a specified position. the manager will want to play the right-handed Curtis move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in ones turn in a game. he played his queen bet or gamble at or on. he didnt play the ponies 3. represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or on film. she played Ophelia synonyms: act (the part of), take the role of, appear as, portray, depict, impersonate, represent, render, perform, enact; formalpersonate he was to play Macbeth perform in a theatrical production or on film. he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor put on or take part in (a theatrical performance or concert). the show was one of the best we ever played give a dramatic performance at (a particular theater or place). behave as though one were (a specified type of person). the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel treat someone as being of (a specified type). dont imagine you can play me for a fool 4. perform on (a musical instrument). we heard someone playing a harmonica possess the skill of performing upon (a musical instrument). he taught himself to play the violin synonyms: perform, make music, jam More 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. (of a musical instrument, music player, radio, etc.) produce sounds. somewhere within, a harp was playing accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction. the bagpipes played them out of the dining room 5. move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker. a smile played about her lips synonyms: dance, flit, ripple, touch; More (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water. 6. allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in. noun noun: play 1. activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children. a child at play may use a stick as an airplane synonyms: amusement, entertainment, relaxation, recreation, diversion, distraction, leisure; More behavior or speech that is not intended seriously. I flinched, but only in play designed to be used in games of pretense; not real. modifier noun: play play families are arranged in play houses 2. the conducting of an athletic match or contest. rain interrupted the second days 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. luck comes into play synonyms: action, activity, operation, working, function; More a move or maneuver in a sport or game. plural noun: plays the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs archaic gambling. 3. a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast. the actors put on a new play synonyms: drama, theatrical work; More 4. the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move. the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play synonyms: movement, slack, give; More scope or freedom to act or operate. our policy allows the market to have freer play synonyms: movement, slack, give; More light and constantly changing movement. the artist exploits the play of light across the surface Origin Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise,’ plega ‘brisk movement,’ related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance.’
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:43:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015