play

• Verb

  1. To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
  2. To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.
  3. To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
  4. To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
  5. To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
  6. To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
  7. To act or behave in a stated way.
  8. To act or behave in a stated way.
  9. To act as (the indicated role).
  10. To act as (the indicated role).
  11. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  12. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  13. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  14. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  15. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  16. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  17. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  18. To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
  19. To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
  20. To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
  21. To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
  22. To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy.
  23. To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.
  24. To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
  25. To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
  26. To gamble.
  27. To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
  28. (colloquial) To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
  29. To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
  30. To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
  31. For additional senses in various idiomatic phrases, see the individual entries, such as play along, play at, play down, play off, play on, play out, play to, play up, etc.

• Noun