What is play?

More definitions of "play":

• (noun): Utilization or exercise.
  Example: "The play of the imagination"

• (noun): Movement or space for movement.
  Example: "There was too much play in the steering wheel"
  Synonyms: looseness

• (noun): A weak and tremulous light.
  Example: "The play of light on the water"
  Synonyms: shimmer

• (noun): A theatrical performance of a drama.
  Example: "The play lasted two hours"

• (verb): Behave carelessly or indifferently.
  Example: "Play about with a young girl's affection"
  Synonyms: dally, toy, flirt

• (verb): Stake on the outcome of an issue.
  Synonyms: bet, wager

• (verb): Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle.
  Example: "Charlie likes to play Mary"
  Synonyms: meet, encounter, take on

• (verb): Exhaust by allowing to pull on the line.
  Example: "Play a hooked fish"

• (verb): Cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space.
  Example: "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"

• (verb): Employ in a game or in a specific position.
  Example: "They played him on first base"

• (verb): Act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome.
  Example: "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"

• (noun): The removal of constraints.
  Example: "They gave full play to the artist's talent"
  Synonyms: free rein

• (verb): Move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly.
  Example: "The spotlights played on the politicians"

• (verb): Engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion.
  Example: "On weekends I play"
  Synonyms: recreate

• (noun): An attempt to get something.
  Example: "They made a futile play for power"
  Synonyms: bid

• (noun): A deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill.
  Example: "The runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
  Synonyms: maneuver, manoeuvre

• (verb): Be performed.
  Example: "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "'Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

• (verb): Use or move.
  Example: "I had to play my queen"

• (verb): Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind.
  Synonyms: act, act as

• (verb): Shoot or hit in a particular manner.
  Example: "She played a good backhand last night"

• (verb): Be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children.
  Example: "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"

• (noun): The act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize).
  Example: "There was heavy play at the blackjack table"
  Synonyms: gambling, gaming

• (noun): The act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully.
  Synonyms: swordplay

• (verb): Engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously.
  Example: "Play the stockmarket"; "play with her feelings"
  Synonyms: toy

• (noun): (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds.
  Example: "Rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
  Synonyms: playing period, period of play

• (verb): Discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream.
  Example: "Play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"

• (verb): Put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game.
  Example: "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"

• (noun): The activity of doing something in an agreed succession.
  Example: "It is still my play"
  Synonyms: turn

• (verb): Replay (as a melody).
  Example: "Play it again, Sam"
  Synonyms: spiel

• (verb): Perform music on (a musical instrument).
  Example: "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"

• (verb): Be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way.
  Example: "This speech didn't play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"

• (verb): Make bets.
  Example: "Play the reaces"; "play the casinos in Trouville"

• (noun): Play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules.
  Example: "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
  Synonyms: child's play

• (verb): Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
  Example: "Play a joke"
  Synonyms: bring, work, wreak, make for

• (verb): Behave in a certain way.
  Example: "Play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"

• (verb): Play on an instrument.
  Example: "The band played all night long"

• (verb): Manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination.
  Synonyms: toy, fiddle, diddle

• (noun): A state in which action is feasible.
  Example: "The ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"

• (noun): A dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage.
  Synonyms: drama, dramatic play

• (noun): A preset plan of action in team sports.
  Example: "The coach drew up the plays for her team"

• (verb): Emit recorded sound.
  Example: "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"

• (noun): Verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously).
  Synonyms: fun, sport

• (verb): Perform on a stage or theater.
  Example: "She acts in this play"
  Synonyms: act, roleplay, playact

• (verb): Perform on a certain location.
  Example: "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"

• (verb): Consider not very seriously.
  Synonyms: dally, trifle

• (verb): Bet or wager (money).
  Example: "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"

• (verb): Participate in games or sport.
  Example: "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

• (noun): Gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement.
  Example: "It was all done in play"
  Synonyms: frolic, romp, gambol, caper

• (verb): Cause to emit recorded sounds.
  Example: "Can you play my favorite record?"
  Synonyms: run

• (verb): Play a role or part.
  Synonyms: act, represent

• (verb): Pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity.
  Example: "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"

Famous quotes containing the word play:

“Quince. Marry, our play is “The most lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.”
Bottom. A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a merry.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

“PLAYING SHOULD BE FUN! In our great eagerness to teach our children we studiously look for “educational” toys, games with built-in lessons, books with a “message.” Often these “tools” are less interesting and stimulating than the child’s natural curiosity and playfulness. Play is by its very nature educational. And it should be pleasurable. When the fun goes out of play, most often so does the learning.”
—Joanne E. Oppenheim (20th century)

“Why don’t you put something on the phonograph, a low-down mean blue. Play it over and over again until you crack it and get sick of it and then go back to work. I do it all the time.”
—Robert Rossen (1908–1966)