Definition of "play" in Englisch

verb

(intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
- The children played in the park.
- 2003, Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont et al. (eds.), Joining Society: Social Interaction and Learning in Adolescence and Youth, Cambridge Univ. Press, p.52:
(intransitive, especially with 'with'; see also play with) To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.
- Don't play with your food!
- He's just playing with her affections.
(transitive, intransitive) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
- He plays on three teams.
- Who's playing now?
- play football, play sports, play games
(intransitive) To contend or fight using weapons, both as practice or in real life-or-death combats; to engage in martial games; to joust; to fence
(intransitive, copulative) To act or behave in a stated way.
- to play safe, to play fair, to play dirty
(transitive) To act as (the indicated role).
- Stop playing the fool.
- No part of the brain plays the role of permanent memory.
(transitive, intransitive) To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
(transitive, intransitive) To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
(transitive) To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy.
- That was a great shot he played!
- He played the blue ball, but the green would have been a better choice.
- When you're in a team, you have to play your part.
- to play a trump in a card game, to play tricks, to play a joke
(transitive) To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.
- The bank robbers have three hostages inside, so we're going to have to play this very carefully.
(transitive) To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
- He made a fortune on Wall Street, playing the markets.
- In this business you have to play the percentages.
(intransitive) To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
- This policy plays well with younger voters.

noun

(uncountable, formerly countable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
- Children learn through play.
- 1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure You know, when I was around 7-11 years old, my favorite play would be "boys." One of us, Bridget, Maryellen, or I, would say "Let's play boys." We all had boy names, set up the pretend surroundings, and acted like boys.
(uncountable) Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
- This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills.
(uncountable) The conduct, or course, of a game.
- Play was very slow in the first half.
- After the rain break, play resumed at 3 o'clock.
- The game was abandoned after 20 minutes' play
(uncountable, sports, with certain prepositions, also figurative) The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is available to be played (see also in play, out of play).
- In potting the yellow ball, he's knocked the green into play.
- When a chess piece is captured, it is removed from play.
- That option has been removed from play.
(uncountable) An individual's performance in a sport or game.
- His play has improved a lot this season.
(countable) A short sequence of action within a game.
- That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward.
(countable) A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
- This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays.
(countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.
- We saw a two-act play in the theatre.
- My kids are acting in the school play this Christmas.
(countable) An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.
- ABC Widgets makes a play in the bicycle market with its bid to take over Acme Sprockets.
- Turpin signals the Metric Party's long-term play for housing reform
(countable) A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
(uncountable) Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)
- the play of light and shadow across the boy's face
(uncountable) Freedom to move.
- give play to your imagination
(uncountable, informal) Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.
- petplay
- Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play
(countable) An instance of watching or listening to media.
- That video of my cat falling off the piano has had ten thousand plays.
(countable, uncountable) An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting.
- Their single got a play on the radio.
- The song got a lot of play in the clubs.
(countable) A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
- press play
(countable) An instance of wordplay.
- play on words
- The name Wiktionary is a play on the words wiki and dictionary.
(archaic, now usually in compounds) Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
- handplay, swordplay