play

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Translations 1.4 Derived terms 2 Italian 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Noun 2.3 Interjection

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: plā, IPA: /pleɪ/, SAMPA: /pleI/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -eɪ

[edit] Etymology 1

Old English pleġa, plæġa

[edit] Noun

play (countable and uncountable; plural plays)

1. (uncountable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
2. The conduct, or course of a game.
3. (countable) An individual's performance in a sport or game.
4. (countable) (turn-based games) An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.
5. (countable) A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
6. (countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.
7. (countable) A major move by a business.
8. (countable) A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
9. (uncountable) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely.

   No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it.

   Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous.

10. (uncountable, informal) Sexual role-playing (as in ageplay, bloodplay, pissplay).

[edit] Synonyms

• (literary composition): drama

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Old English pleġian.

[edit] Verb

to play (third-person singular simple present plays, present participle playing, simple past and past participle played)

1. (intransitive): To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation.
   • 2001, Annabelle Sabloff, Reordering the Natural World, Univ. of Toronto Press, p. 83,

     A youngster...listed some of the things his pet did not do: ...go on vacation, play in the same way that he did with his friends, and so on.

   • 2003, Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont et al. (eds.), Joining Society: Social Interaction and Learning in Adolescence and Youth, Cambridge Univ. Press, p. 52,

     We had to play for an hour, so that meant that we didn't have time to play and joke around.

2. (intransitive) To play a sport.

   He plays on three teams.

   Who's playing now?

3. (intransitive) To produce music using a musical instrument.

   I've practiced the piano off and on, and I still can't play very well.

4. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (intransitive) To deal with a situation in a diplomatic manner.
5. (transitive) To act in a performance as the indicated role.

   He plays the King, and she's the Queen.

6. (transitive) To participate in the game indicated.

   play football, play sports, play games

7. (transitive, ergative) To produce music on the indicated musical instrument.

   I'll play the piano and you sing.

   Can you play an instrument?

8. (transitive, ergative) To produce music, the indicated song or style, with a musical instrument.

   We especially like to play jazz together.

   Play a song for me.

   Do you know how to play Für Elise?

   My son thinks he can play music.

9. (transitive, ergative) To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording.

   You can play the DVD now.

10. (copulative) Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being.
    • 1985, Sharon S Brehm, Intimate Relationships

      Playing hard to get is not the same as slamming the door in someone's face.

    • 1996, Michael P Mal one, James J Hill: Empire Builder of the Northwest

      Now, surveying his final link, he had the nice advantage of being able to play coy with established port cities that desperately wanted his proven railroad.

    • 2003, John U. Ogbu, Black American Students in an Affluent Suburb: A Study of Academic Disengagement, page 194

      Instead, they played dumb, remained silent, and did their classwork.

11. (copulative) In a game or game-like setting, to maintain a posture of being.

    They played long and hard.

    Play nice, children.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Etymology

English

[edit] Noun

play m. inv.

1. play (theatrical performance; start key)

[edit] Interjection

play!

1. used to start a game of Tennis