pleɪ v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by with)
occupy or
amuse oneself pleasantly
with some recreation, game,
exercise, etc. 2 intr. (foll. by with)
act light-heartedly or flippantly (with feelings etc.). 3 tr. a
perform on or be
able to perform on (a
musical instrument). b perform (a
piece of
music etc.). c
cause (a
record, record-player, etc.) to
produce sounds. 4 a intr. (foll. by in) perform a
role in (a
drama etc.). b tr. perform (a drama or role) on
stage, or in a
film or
broadcast. c tr.
give a
dramatic performance at (a
particular theatre or place). 5 tr. act in real
life the part of (play
truant; play the fool). 6 tr. (foll. by on) perform (a
trick or
joke etc.) on (a person). 7 tr. (foll. by for)
regard (a person) as (something specified) (played me
for a fool). 8 intr. colloq.
participate,
cooperate; do
what is wanted (they won't play). 9 intr.
gamble. 10 tr. gamble
on. 11 tr. a
take part in (a game or recreation). b
compete with (another
player or team) in a game. c occupy (a specified position) in a
team for a game. d (foll. by
in, on,
at, etc.)
assign (a player) to a
position. 12 tr.
move (a piece) or
display (a playing-card) in one's
turn in a game. 13 tr. (also absol.)
strike (a ball etc.) or
execute (a stroke) in a game. 14 intr. move
about in a
lively or
unrestrained manner. 15 intr. (often foll. by on) a
touch gently. b
emit light,
water, etc. (fountains gently playing). 16 tr.
allow (a fish) to
exhaust itself pulling
against a line. 17 intr. (often foll. by at) a
engage in a
half-hearted way (in an activity). b
pretend to
be. 18 intr. (of a cricket ground etc.) be
conducive to play as specified (the pitch is playing fast). 19 intr. colloq. act or
behave (as specified) (play fair). 20 tr. (foll. by in,
out, etc.)
accompany (a person) with music (were played out with bagpipes). --n. 1 recreation,
amusement,
esp. as the
spontaneous activity of
children and young animals. 2 a the playing of a game. b the
action or manner of
this. c the
status of the ball etc. in a game as
being available to be played
according to the rules (in play; out of play). 3 a dramatic piece for the stage etc. 4 activity or
operation (are in full play;
brought into play). 5 a
freedom of
movement. b
space or scope for this. 6
brisk, light, or
fitful movement. 7 gambling. 8 an action or
manoeuvre, esp. in or as in a game. øat play
engaged in recreation. in play for amusement;
not seriously.
make play act effectively. make a play for colloq. make a
conspicuous attempt to
acquire. make play with
use ostentatiously. play about (or around) behave irresponsibly. play
along pretend to cooperate. play
back play (sounds recently recorded), esp. to
monitor recording quality etc. play-back n. a playing back of a
sound or sounds. play ball see
BALL(1). play by ear 1 perform (music)
without the
aid of a
score. 2 (also play it by ear)
proceed instinctively or
step by step according to results and circumstances. play one's cards
right (or well) make
good use of opportunities; act shrewdly. play down
minimize the
importance of. play ducks and drakes with see
DUCK(1). played out exhausted of
energy or usefulness. play
false act, or
treat a (person), deceitfully or treacherously. play fast and
loose act unreliably;
ignore one's obligations. play the
field see FIELD. play for
time seek to
gain time by delaying. play the game see
GAME(1). play
God see GOD. play
havoc with see HAVOC. play
hell with see HELL. play
hookey see HOOKEY. play into a person's hands act so as unwittingly to give a
person an
advantage. play it
cool colloq. 1 affect
indifference. 2 be relaxed or
unemotional. play the
man = be a man (see MAN). play the
market speculate in stocks etc. play
off (usu. foll. by against) 1
oppose (one person against another), esp. for one's
own advantage. 2 play an
extra match to
decide a
draw or
tie. play-off n. a match played to decide a draw or tie. play on 1
continue to play. 2 take advantage of (a person's feelings etc.). play oneself in
become accustomed to the prevailing conditions in a game etc. play on words a pun. play-pen a
portable enclosure for young children to play in. play
possum see POSSUM. play
safe (or for safety)
avoid risks. play-suit a
garment for a young
child. play to the
gallery see GALLERY. play up 1 behave mischievously. 2 cause
trouble; be irritating (my
rheumatism is playing up again). 3
obstruct or
annoy in this way (played the
teacher up). 4 put
all one's energy into a game. play up to
flatter, esp. to
win favour. play with
fire take
foolish risks. øøplayable adj. playability n. [OE plega (n.), pleg(i)an (v.), orig. = (to) exercise]