Play - 4 Dictionary

Play

Type: verb

Also available on: NOUN ADJ ADV VERB

Definition 1:
participate in games or sports; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

Definition 2:
employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"

Definition 3:
perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"

Definition 4:
discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"

Definition 5:
be performed; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

Definition 6:
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"

Definition 7:
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"

Definition 8:
shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"

Definition 9:
[spiel,] - as of melodies; "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"

Definition 10:
[recreate,] - engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"

Definition 11:
move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"

Definition 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"

Definition 13:
bet or wager (money); "He played on the new horse"; "She plays the races"

Definition 14:
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"

Definition 15:
make bets; "Play the reaces"; "play the casinos in Trouville"

Definition 16:
perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"

Definition 17:
emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"

Definition 18:
exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"

Definition 19:
cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space, as of machinery; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"

Definition 20:
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"

Definition 21:
cause to be emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"

Definition 22:
play (music) on an instrument; "The band played all night long"

Definition 23:
engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stockmarket"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"

Definition 24:
behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe";"play fair"

Definition 25:
use or move; "I had to play my queen"

Definition 26:
use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"

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