play
— Verb
– English
～ engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
play
— Verb
– English
～ play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
play around
— Verb
– English
～ commit adultery; "he plays around a lot"
play
— Verb
– English
～ behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
play
— Verb
– English
～ 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
— Verb
– English
～ pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
play
— Verb
– English
～ 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
— Verb
– English
～ make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
play
— Verb
– English
～ use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"
play
— Verb
– English
～ employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
play
— Verb
– English
～ cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
play
— Verb
– English
～ 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"
play
— Verb
– English
～ 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"
play out
— Verb
– English
～ become spent or exhausted; "The champion's strength played out fast"
play
— Verb
– English
～ perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
play
— Verb
– English
～ replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
play along
— Verb
– English
～ cooperate or pretend to cooperate; "He decided to play along with the burglars for the moment"
play
— Verb
– English
～ shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
play
— Verb
– English
～ bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
play out
— Verb
– English
～ play to a finish; "We have got to play this game out, even thought it is clear that we have last"