play: meaning and definitions

To occupy oneself in amusement, sport, or other recreation: children playing with toys.

To take part in a game: No minors are eligible to play.

To participate in betting; gamble.

To act in jest or sport: They're not arguing in earnest, they're just playing.

To deal or behave carelessly or indifferently; toy. See Synonyms at flirt.

To behave or converse sportively or playfully.

To act or conduct oneself in a specified way: play fair; an investor who plays cautiously.

To act, especially in a dramatic production.

Music To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.

Music To emit sound or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.

To be performed, as in a theater or on television: A good movie is playing tonight.

To be received or accepted: a speech that played poorly with the voters.

To move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly: The breeze played on the water.

To function or discharge uninterruptedly: The fountains played in the courtyard.

To move or operate freely within a bounded space, as machine parts do.

To perform or act (a role or part) in a dramatic performance.

To assume the role of; act as: played the peacemaker at the meeting.

To perform (a theatrical work) on or as if on the stage.

To present a theatrical performance in (a given place): The company played Detroit last week.

To pretend to be; mimic the activities of: played cowboy; played the star.

To engage in (a game or sport): play hockey; play chess.

To compete against in a game or sport.

To occupy or work at (a position) in a game: Lou Gehrig played first base.

To employ (a player) in a game or position: Let's play her at first base.

To use or move (a card or piece) in a game: play the ace of clubs