• the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
• Play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of Play to a small child"
• the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my 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"
• 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"
• a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a Play by the shortstop"
• a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the Plays for her team"
• an attempt to get something; "they made a futile Play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"
• utilization or exercise; "the Play of the imagination"
• movement or space for movement; "there was too much Play in the steering wheel"
• verbal wit (often at another''s expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"
• a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several Plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
• a theatrical performance of a drama; "the Play lasted two hours"
• a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the Play of light on the water"
• the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full Play to the artist''s talent"
• a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in Play"; "insiders said the company''s stock was in Play"
• (in games or Plays or other performances) the time during which Play proceeds; "rain stopped Play in the 4th inning"
• engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They Played games on their opponents"; "Play the stockmarket"; "Play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"
• pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She Plays deaf when the news are bad"
• exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "Play a hooked fish"
• consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She Plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
• participate in games or sport; "We Played hockey all afternoon"; "Play cards"; "Pele Played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
• contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton Plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to Play Mary"
• employ in a game or in a specific position; "They Played him on first base"
• use or move; "I had to Play my queen"
• shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She Played a good backhand last night"
• bet or wager (money); "He Played $20 on the new horse"; "She Plays the races"
• 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"
• stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She Played all her money on the dark horse"
• make bets; "Play the reaces"; "Play the casinos in Trouville"
• use to one''s advantage; "She Plays on her clients'' emotions"
• discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "Play water from a hose"; "The fountains Played all day"
• 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"
• 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"
• perform on a certain location; "The prodigy Played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been Playing on Broadway for years"
• be performed; "What''s Playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats'' has been Playing on Broadway for many years"
• cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you Play my favorite record?"
• emit recorded sound; "The tape was Playing for hours"; "the stereo was Playing Beethoven when I entered"
• 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"
• perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this Play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar''"; "I Played in `A Christmas Carol''"
• pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or Playful activity; "Let''s Play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
• rePlay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She Played the third movement very beautifully"
• Play on an instrument; "The band Played all night long"
• perform music on (a musical instrument); "He Plays the flute"; "Can you Play on this old recorder?"
• move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights Played on the politicians"
• cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is Playing in a rack"
• 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"
• engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I Play"; "The students all recreate alike"
• 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"
• behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl''s affection"
• behave in a certain way; "Play safe"; "Play it safe"; "Play fair"
• 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"

'Play' in other languages