PLAY
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
play¹
- /pleɪ̯/ [pɫ̥eɪ̯ ~ pʰɫeɪ̯] US
- /ple(j)/ South Asia
Rhymes with -eɪ
Where it comes from
Etymology tree
Proto-West Germanic *plehan
Old English pleġan
Proto-West Germanic *plegō
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-West Germanic *-ōn
Proto-West Germanic *plegōn
Old English plegian
Middle English pleyen
Proto-West Germanic *plegō
Old English plega
Middle English pleye
English play
From Middle English pleyen (verb) and Middle English pleye (noun), from Old English plegian and plegan, plagian (“to play, exercise, etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *plehan (“to care about, be concerned with”) and Proto-West Germanic *plegōn (“to engage, move”), of uncertain origin.
cognates and related terms
Cognate with Scots play (“to act or move briskly, cause to move, stir”), Saterland Frisian pleegje (“to look after, care for, maintain”), West Frisian pleegje, pliigje (“to commit, perform, bedrive”), Middle Dutch pleyen ("to dance, leap for joy, rejoice, be glad"; compare Modern Dutch pleien (“to play a particular children's game”)), Dutch plegen (“to commit, bedrive, practice”), German pflegen (“to care for, be concerned with, attend to, tend”). Related also to Old English plēon (“to risk, endanger”). More at plight, pledge.
The noun is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, plega, plæġa (“play, quick motion, movement, exercise; (athletic) sport, game; festivity, drama; battle; gear for games, an implement for a game; clapping with the hands, applause”), deverbative of plegian (“to play”); see above.
verb plays · playing · played
- To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. The children played in the park.
- To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless. Don't play with your food!
- To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game). He plays on three teams.
- Specifying a particular sporting role or position. He plays left back for Mudchester Rovers
- To compete against, in a game. We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.
- To be the opposing score to. Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!
- To contend or fight using weapons, both as practice or in real life-or-death combats; to engage in martial games; to joust; to fence
- To act or behave in a stated way. to play safe, to play fair, to play dirty
- To give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be. He plays dumb, but actually he's very clever.
- To act as (the indicated role). Stop playing the fool.
- To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre). Who played Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind'?
- To produce music using a musical instrument. I'll play the piano and you sing.
- To produce music. This piano plays out of tune.
- To operate (a device or media) so as to cause sound (especially music) or moving pictures to be produced. You can play the DVD now.
- To render (a musical title, compositional style, film title, etc.) using a musical instrument or device. Do you know how to play Für Elise on the piano?
- To emit or relay sound (especially music) or moving pictures; (of a device) to operate media. The juke box is playing our favourite song.
- To be performed, reproduced, or shown. His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow.
- To perform or give performances in or at (a venue or location). The band is playing large arenas nationwide.
- To act or perform (a play). to play a comedy
- To move in a light or brisk manner. The fountain plays.
- To move so as to fall upon or sweep across something, or to direct or operate (something) in such a manner. The torch beam played around the room.
- To move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro. the waving sedges play with wind
- To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy. That was a great shot he played!
- To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way. The bank robbers have three hostages inside, so we're going to have to play this very carefully.
- To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain. He made a fortune on Wall Street, playing the markets.
- To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down. This policy plays well with younger voters.
- To gamble. “I play, comparatively, very little; I don't drink a fifth part so much as half the people I live with; and I reckon myself, upon the whole, a very orderly, sober fellow.”
- To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
- To manipulate, deceive, or swindle. You played me!
- To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously. They don't play with the rules around here.
- To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around. Her proper face / I not descerned in that darkesome shade, / But weend it was my loue, with whom he playd.
- For additional senses in various idiomatic phrases, see the individual entries, such as play along, play at, play down, play off, play on, play out, play to, play up, etc.
noun plays
- Activity for amusement only, especially among the young. Children learn through play.
- Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills. This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills.
- The conduct, or course, of a game. Play was very slow in the first half.
- The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is played or available to be played (see also in play, out of play). In potting the yellow ball, he's knocked the green into play.
- An individual's performance in a sport or game. His play has improved a lot this season.
- A short sequence of action within a game. That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward.
- An action carried out when it is one's turn to play. AWARD is better than either WARED or WADER. However, there's an even better play! If you have looked at the two-to-make-three letter list, you may have noticed the word AWA.
- A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue. This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays.
- A theatrical performance featuring actors. We saw a two-act play in the theatre.
- An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party. ABC Widgets makes a play in the bicycle market with its bid to take over Acme Sprockets.
- A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
- Movement (of a pattern of light etc.) the play of light and shadow across the boy's face
- Freedom to move. give play to your imagination
- The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack. No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it.
- Sexual activity or sexual role-playing. petplay
- An instance of watching or listening to media. That video of my cat falling off the piano has had ten thousand plays.
- An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting. Their single got a play on the radio.
- A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played. press play
- An instance of wordplay. play on words
- Activity relating to martial combat or fighting. handplay, swordplay
PLAY²
proper noun
- Dave & Buster's. Dave and Buster’s (PLAY), the popular restaurant and entertainment chain, is getting into the betting business.
