play : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: play	by the DICT Development Group
6 results for play
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
play n a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway" Synonym(s): play, drama, dramatic play a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours" a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team" a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop" Synonym(s): maneuver, manoeuvre, play a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play" utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination" an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention" Synonym(s): bid, play activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child" Synonym(s): play, child's play (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning" Synonym(s): playing period, period of play, play the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent" Synonym(s): free rein, play a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water" Synonym(s): shimmer, play verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport" Synonym(s): fun, play, sport movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel" Synonym(s): looseness, play Antonym(s): tautness, tightness gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly" Synonym(s): play, frolic, romp, gambol, caper (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" Synonym(s): turn, play the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table" Synonym(s): gambling, gaming, play the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully Synonym(s): play, swordplay v participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches" act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal" play on an instrument; "The band played all night long" play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master" Synonym(s): act, play, represent be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl" replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully" Synonym(s): play, spiel perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?" pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad" Synonym(s): act, play, act as move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians" bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races" engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike" Synonym(s): play, recreate pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians" emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered" perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years" put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory" engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea" Synonym(s): play, toy behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair" cause to emit recorded audio or video; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "I'll play you my favorite record"; "He never tires of playing that video" Synonym(s): play, run manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination; "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate" Synonym(s): toy, fiddle, diddle, play use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions" consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania" Synonym(s): dally, trifle, play be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way; "This speech didn't play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee" behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection" Synonym(s): dally, toy, play, flirt cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack" perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'" Synonym(s): act, play, roleplay, playact be performed or presented for public viewing; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years" cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "I cannot work a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area" Synonym(s): bring, work, play, wreak, make for discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day" make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville" stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse" Synonym(s): bet, wager, play shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night" use or move; "I had to play my queen" employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base" contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary" Synonym(s): meet, encounter, play, take on exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Play \Play\, v. t. {To play hob}, to play the part of a mischievous spirit; to work mischief. d8Plebs \[d8]Plebs\ (pl[ecr]bz), n. [L. Cf. {Plebe}.] 1. The commonalty of ancient Rome who were citizens without the usual political rights; the plebeians; -- distinguished from the {patricians}. 2. Hence, the common people; the populace; -- construed as a pl.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Play \Play\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Played}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Playing}.] [OE. pleien, AS. plegian, plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G. pflegen; of unknown origin. [root]28. Cf. {Plight}, n.] 1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot. As Cannace was playing in her walk. --Chaucer. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play! --Pope. And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword. --Keble. 2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless. [bd]Nay,[b8] quod this monk, [bd]I have no lust to pleye.[b8] --Chaucer. Men are apt to play with their healths. --Sir W. Temple. 3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes. 4. To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute. One that . . . can play well on an instrument. --Ezek. xxxiii. 32. Play, my friend, and charm the charmer. --Granville. 5. To act; to behave; to practice deception. His mother played false with a smith. --Shak. 6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays. The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play. --Cheyne. 7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport. Even as the waving sedges play with wind. --Shak. The setting sun Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets. --Addison. All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart. --Pope. 8. To act on the stage; to personate a character. A lord will hear your play to-night. --Shak. Courts are theaters where some men play. --Donne. {To play into a person's hands}, to act, or to manage matters, to his advantage or benefit. {To play off}, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice. {To play upon}. (a) To make sport of; to deceive. Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight. --Shak. (b) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as, to play upon words.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Play \Play\, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. 2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. John naturally loved rough play. --Arbuthnot. 3. The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play. 4. Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit. [bd]The next who comes in play.[b8] --Dryden. 5. A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action. A play ought to be a just image of human nature. --Dryden. 6. The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play. 7. Performance on an instrument of music. 8. Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action. [bd]To give them play, front and rear.[b8] --Milton. The joints are let exactly into one another, that they have no play between them. --Moxon. 9. Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth. {Play actor}, an actor of dramas. --Prynne. {Play debt}, a gambling debt. --Arbuthnot. {Play pleasure}, idle amusement. [Obs.] --Bacon. {A play upon words}, the use of a word in such a way as to be capable of double meaning; punning. {Play of colors}, prismatic variation of colors. {To bring into play}, {To come into play}, to bring or come into use or exercise. {To hold in play}, to keep occupied or employed.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Play \Play\, v. t. 1. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump. First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul. --Herbert. 2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ. 3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin. 4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks. Nature here Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will Her virgin fancies. --Milton. 5. To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman. Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt. --Sir W. Scott. 6. To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball. 7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it. {To play off}, to display; to show; to put in exercise; as, to play off tricks. {To play one's cards}, to manage one's means or opportunities; to contrive. {Played out}, tired out; exhausted; at the end of one's resources. [Colloq.]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
PLAY A language for {real-time} music synthesis. 1977. ["An Introduction to the Play Program", J. Chadabe ete al, Computer Music J 2,1 (1978)]. (1999-06-04)