A literary work written for performance on the stage; a drama.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Action, motion, or use: the play of the imagination.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
An attempt to obtain something; a bid: a play for sympathy.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Fun or jesting: It was all done in play.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
idiom
In play Sports In a position to be legally or feasibly played: The ball is now in play.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Out of play Sports Not in a position to be legally or feasibly played.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Play ball Slang To cooperate: The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Play fast and loose To behave in a recklessly irresponsible or deceitful manner: played fast and loose with the facts.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Play for time To use delaying tactics; temporize.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
verb-intransitive
Music To emit sound or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Music To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
To act or conduct oneself in a specified way: play fair; an investor who plays cautiously.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
To act, especially in a dramatic production.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
To be performed, as in a theater or on television: A good movie is playing tonight.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
verb-transitive
Music To perform (a piece) on instruments or an instrument.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Music To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
To assume the role of; act as: played the peacemaker at the meeting.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
To attempt to keep or gain possession or control of: No foul was called because he was playing the ball.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
To bet; wager: played ten dollars on the horse.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
phrasal-verb
Play along Informal To cooperate or pretend to cooperate: decided to play along with the robbers for a while.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Play around To philander.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Play at To do or take part in halfheartedly.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Play at To participate in; engage in.
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Play back To replay (a recently recorded tape, for example).
from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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