play

Q: What does play mean?

v. Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation.; Act out a character or scenario for amusement.; Participate in a game or sport.; Perform as a team member in a sport.; Include in a team for a game or sport.; Strike or kick a ball in a particular manner.; Move a piece in a game like chess.; Reveal a card in a card game.; Perform music on an instrument.; Be skilled at performing music on an instrument.; Operate a device to listen to music or media.; Be heard or performed, like a song or piece.; Start functioning or operating, like a video or DVD.; Perform a role in a theatrical production.; Pretend to be something that you are not.; Behave as though you are a particular type of person.; Be performed, like a theatrical production.; Give a performance in a particular place.; Have an effect or influence on something.; Trick somebody for fun.; Deal with a situation in a certain manner.; Do something without being serious or putting much effort into it.; Be willing to cooperate in a helpful way.; Move quickly and lightly, often changing direction or shape.; Produce a steady stream of water, as a fountain does.; n. A theatrical performance or dramatic work.; Activities done for enjoyment and recreation.; The act of engaging in a game.; A move or action within a game.; The activity or influence of something on another.; The possibility of free and easy movement.; A light, quick movement that keeps changing.

🇺🇸 /pleɪ/ 🇬🇧 /pleɪ/

Frequency

Difficulty

Tags TOP500Oxford3000CEFR-A1

verb

Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation.

A group of kids were playing with a ball in the street.

Act out a character or scenario for amusement.

They were playing at being cowboys.

Participate in a game or sport.

Evans played very well.

Perform as a team member in a sport.

Who's playing on the wing?

Include in a team for a game or sport.

I think we should play Matt on the wing.

Strike or kick a ball in a particular manner.

He played a backhand volley.

Move a piece in a game like chess.

She played her bishop.

Reveal a card in a card game.

He played out of turn!

Perform music on an instrument.

Play us that new piece.

Be skilled at performing music on an instrument.

Do you play a musical instrument?

Operate a device to listen to music or media.

I played some music to drown out the noise.

Be heard or performed, like a song or piece.

My favourite song was playing on the radio.

Start functioning or operating, like a video or DVD.

Click below to play videos.

Perform a role in a theatrical production.

He had always wanted to play Othello.

Pretend to be something that you are not.

I decided it was safer to play dead.

Behave as though you are a particular type of person.

This is no time to play the hero.

Be performed, like a theatrical production.

A production of ‘Carmen’ was playing to packed houses.

Give a performance in a particular place.

The band are playing 11 cities around the country.

Have an effect or influence on something.

Businesses can play their part by contributing some of their profits.

Trick somebody for fun.

Children ran around the village playing tricks.

Deal with a situation in a certain manner.

He played the situation carefully for maximum advantage.

Do something without being serious or putting much effort into it.

Officials are playing politics with farm programs.

Be willing to cooperate in a helpful way.

He needs another loan, but the bank won't play.

Move quickly and lightly, often changing direction or shape.

A small smile played on her lips.

Produce a steady stream of water, as a fountain does.

Two huge fountains were playing outside the entrance.

noun

A theatrical performance or dramatic work.

She wrote a play for the students to perform.

Activities done for enjoyment and recreation.

Making time for both work and play is not easy.

The act of engaging in a game.

Does online play have a negative effect on gaming?

A move or action within a game.

They are playing better now, making big plays at key times.

The activity or influence of something on another.

Personal feelings should not come into play when you are making business decisions.

The possibility of free and easy movement.

We need more play in the rope.

A light, quick movement that keeps changing.

the play of sunlight on water

translation

Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation.; Act out a character or scenario for amusement.; Participate in a game or sport.; Perform as a team member in a sport.; Include in a team for a game or sport.; Strike or kick a ball in a particular manner.; Move a piece in a game like chess.; Reveal a card in a card game.; Perform music on an instrument.; Be skilled at performing music on an instrument.; Operate a device to listen to music or media.; Be heard or performed, like a song or piece.; Start functioning or operating, like a video or DVD.; Perform a role in a theatrical production.; Pretend to be something that you are not.; Behave as though you are a particular type of person.; Be performed, like a theatrical production.; Give a performance in a particular place.; Have an effect or influence on something.; Trick somebody for fun.; Deal with a situation in a certain manner.; Do something without being serious or putting much effort into it.; Be willing to cooperate in a helpful way.; Move quickly and lightly, often changing direction or shape.; Produce a steady stream of water, as a fountain does.

A theatrical performance or dramatic work.; Activities done for enjoyment and recreation.; The act of engaging in a game.; A move or action within a game.; The activity or influence of something on another.; The possibility of free and easy movement.; A light, quick movement that keeps changing.

Word Forms

3rd Present plays

Progressive playing

Past played

Perfect played

Plural plays

play

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