game
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English game, gamen, gammen, from Old English gamen (“sport, joy, mirth, pastime, game, amusement, pleasure”), from Proto-Germanic *gamaną (“amusement, pleasure, game", literally "participation, communion, people together”), from *ga- (collective prefix) + *mann- (“man”), equivalent to ge- + man; or alternatively from *ga- + a root from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think, have in mind”), equivalent to ge- + mind. Cognate with Middle High German gamen (“joy, amusement, fun, pleasure”), Swedish gamman (“mirth, rejoicing, merriment”), Icelandic gaman (“fun”). Related to gammon, gamble.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
game (countable and uncountable; plural games)
- (countable) A pursuit or activity with rules performed either alone or with others, often for the purpose of entertainment, education, monetary gain or other such reasons. In many games, the objective is to win by defeating the other player or players or being the first to reach a specified goal, while in others, role-playing or cooperation is emphasized.
- Shall we play a game?
- (countable, sports) A contest between two individuals or teams. A game may refer to the entire encounter between the two (e.g. a basketball game), or to just one contest of several required to win (e.g. a tennis game).
- (countable, military) An exercise simulating warfare for the purpose of training personnel, testing combat readiness, or to better understand various possible outcomes of various strategies or tactics. The exercise may involve human participants, or it may be simulated, often with the aid of computers.
- (uncountable) Wild animals hunted for food.
- The forest has plenty of game.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act Third
- I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game’s afoot!
- (countable, nearly always singular) A field of gainful activity, as an industry or profession.
- When it comes to making sales, John is the best in the game.
- He's in the securities game somehow.
- (uncountable, informal, used mostly of males) The ability to successfully seduce someone into a romantic or sexual relationship, usually achieved by pre-meditated strategy.
- He didn't get anywhere with her because he had no game.
- (countable) One or more questionable, unethical, or illegal practices.
- You want to borrow my credit card for a week? What's your game?
Synonyms [edit]
- (activity performed for entertainment): pastime, play, recreation, frolic, sport, diversion, fun, amusement, merriment, festivity, entertainment, spree, prank, lark, gambol, merrymaking, gaiety
- (field of gainful activity): line
- (military): wargame
- (business or occupation): racket
- (questionable practices): racket
Antonyms [edit]
- (activity performed for entertainment): drudgery, work, toil, sadness, labor, uneasiness, grief, sorrow
Hyponyms [edit]
- See also Wikisaurus:game
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
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Adjective [edit]
game (comparative gamer, superlative gamest)
- (colloquial) Willing to participate.
- (of an animal) That shows a tendency to continue to fight against another animal, despite being wounded, often severely.
- Persistent, especially in senses similar to the above.
- Injured, lame (of a limb).
- around 1900, O. Henry, Lost on Dress Parade
- You come with me and we'll have a cozy dinner and a pleasant talk together, and by that time your game ankle will carry you home very nicely, I am sure."
- around 1900, O. Henry, Lost on Dress Parade
Synonyms [edit]
- (willing to participate): sporting, willing, daring, disposed, favorable, nervy, courageous, valiant
Antonyms [edit]
- (willing to participate): cautious, disinclined
Translations [edit]
Verb [edit]
game (third-person singular simple present games, present participle gaming, simple past and past participle gamed)
- (intransitive) To gamble.
- (intransitive) To play games and be a gamer.
- (transitive) To exploit loopholes in a system or bureaucracy in a way which defeats or nullifies the spirit of the rules in effect, usually to obtain a result which otherwise would be unobtainable.
- We'll bury them in paperwork, and game the system.
- (transitive, slang, of males) To perform premeditated seduction strategy.
- 2011, "Citizen Renegade", Winning Back Pissed Off Ex-Girlfriend:
- An angry ex can be gamed into a hatefuck, but an indifferent ex is already hopping on fresh cock.
- 2011, "Citizen Renegade", Winning Back Pissed Off Ex-Girlfriend:
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
See also [edit]
Anagrams [edit]
Dutch [edit]
Verb [edit]
game
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English words prefixed with ge-
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Sports
- en:Military
- English uncountable nouns
- English informal terms
- English adjectives
- English colloquialisms
- English verbs
- English slang
- Ball games
- Dutch verb forms