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plays
 
Noun play has 17 senses
  1. play, drama, dramatic play - a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
    --1 is a kind of dramatic composition, dramatic work
    --1 has parts: stage direction; act
    --1 has particulars:
     Grand Guignol; theater of the absurd; playlet; miracle play; morality play; mystery play; Passion play; satyr play
    Derived forms: verb play26, verb play25, verb play14, verb play4
  2. play - a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
    --2 is a kind of     show
    --2 has particulars: musical, musical comedy, musical theater; curtain raiser
    Derived forms: verb play26, verb play25, verb play14, verb play4
  3. play - a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
    --3 is a kind of     plan of action
    --3 has particulars:
     knock on; football play; razzle-dazzle, razzle, razzmatazz, razmataz; basketball play; baseball play
    Derived forms: verb play33, verb play32, verb play1
  4. maneuver, manoeuvre, play - a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
    --4 is a kind of motion, movement, move
    --4 is a part of athletic game
    --4 has particulars:
     takeaway; figure; completion, pass completion; ball hawking; assist; icing, icing the puck; jugglery; obstruction; footwork; stroke, shot; safety blitz, linebacker blitzing, blitz; mousetrap, trap play
    Derived forms: verb play31, verb play20
  5. play - a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"
    --5 is a kind of     action, activity, activeness
    Derived form: verb play2
  6. play - utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"
    --6 is a kind of     use, usage, utilization, utilisation, employment, exercise
    Derived form: verb play2
  7. bid, play - an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"
    --7 is a kind of attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try
  8. play, child's play - play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
    --8 is a kind of diversion, recreation
    --8 has particulars: house; doctor; fireman
    Derived form: verb play5
  9. playing period, period of play, play - (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
    --9 is a kind of measure, quantity, amount
    --9 is a part of athletic game
    --9 has particulars:
     hole, golf hole; chukka, chukker; inning, frame; set; turn, bout, round; first period; second period; third period; final period; half; period; quarter; over
    Derived forms: verb play34, verb play1
  10. free rein, play - the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"
    --10 is a kind of freedom
  11. shimmer, play - a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
    --11 is a kind of change, alteration, modification
    Derived form: verb play9
  12. fun, play, sport - verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"
    --12 is a kind of wit, humor, humour, witticism, wittiness
    --12 has particulars:
     jocosity, jocularity; waggery, waggishness; drollery, clowning, comedy, funniness; pun, punning, wordplay, paronomasia
  13. looseness, play - movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"
    --13 is a kind of movability, movableness
    --13 has particulars: wiggliness; slack, slackness
    Derived form: verb play24
  14. play, frolic, romp, gambol, caper - 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"
    --14 is a kind of diversion, recreation
    --14 has particulars:
     flirt, flirting, flirtation, coquetry, dalliance, toying; folly, foolery, tomfoolery, craziness, lunacy, indulgence; game; horseplay; teasing; word play
    Derived forms: verb play11, verb play5
  15. gambling, gaming, 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"
    --15 is a kind of diversion, recreation; vice
    --15 has particulars:
     sporting life; bet, wager; game of chance, gambling game; unlicensed gambling; throw
    Derived forms: verb play30, verb play29, verb play15, verb play10
  16. turn, play - the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
    --16 is a kind of activity
    --16 is a part of game
    --16 has particulars:
     move; start, starting; innings; attack; down; bat, at-bat; lead; ruff, trumping
  17. play, swordplay - the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
    --17 is a kind of action
    --17 has particulars: fencing
Verb play has 35 senses
  1. play - participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
    --1 is one way to     compete, vie, contend
    Derived forms: noun play9, noun play3, noun player4, noun player1, noun playing2
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something
  2. play - 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"
    --2 is one way to     act, move
    Derived forms: noun play6, noun play5
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  3. play - play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
    --3 is one way to     perform
    Derived forms: noun player2, noun playing1
    Sample sentence:
    Sam and Sue play
  4. act, play, represent - 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"
    --4 is one way to re-create
    Derived forms: noun play2, noun play1, noun player3, noun playing3
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
  5. play - 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"
    --5 is one way to     act
    Derived forms: noun play14, noun play8, noun playing2
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  6. play, spiel - replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
    --6 is one way to re-create
    Derived form: noun playing1
    Sample sentence:
    They will play the duet
  7. play - perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
    --7 is one way to     sound
    Derived form: noun playing1
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  8. act, play, act as - pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
    --8 is one way to act, behave, do
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s somebody
  9. play - move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"
    --9 is one way to     travel, go, move, locomote
    Derived form: noun play11
    Sample sentence:
    Something is ----ing PP
  10. play - bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
    --10 is one way to     gamble
    Derived form: noun play15
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  11. play, recreate - engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
    Derived forms: noun play14, noun playing2
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  12. play - pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
    --12 is one way to     simulate, assume, sham, feign
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
  13. play - emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
    --13 is one way to     sound
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Something ----s something
  14. play - perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
    --14 is one way to     perform
    Derived forms: noun play2, noun play1
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  15. play - 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"
    --15 is one way to     deploy
    Derived form: noun play15
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  16. play, toy - 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"
    --16 is one way to act, behave, do
    Derived form: noun playing2
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  17. play - behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
    --17 is one way to     act, move
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
    Somebody ----s Adjective
  18. play, run - cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"
    Sample sentence:
    Sam and Sue play the movie
  19. toy, fiddle, diddle, play - 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"
    --19 is one way to manipulate
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s PP
  20. play - use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"
    --20 is one way to     exploit, work
    Derived form: noun play4
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s PP
  21. dally, trifle, play - consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
    --21 is one way to consider, take, deal, look at
    Sample sentence:
    Sam wants to play with Sue
  22. play - 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"
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  23. dally, toy, play, flirt - behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection"
    --23 is one way to act, move
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s PP
  24. play - cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
    --24 is one way to     move, displace
    Derived form: noun play13
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  25. act, play, roleplay, playact - perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
    --25 is one way to perform
    Derived forms: noun play2, noun play1, noun player3, noun playing3
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  26. play - be performed; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
    Derived forms: noun play1, noun play2
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Something is ----ing PP
  27. bring, work, play, wreak, make for - 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"
    --27 is one way to make, create
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  28. play - discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
    --28 is one way to     discharge
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s something
  29. play - make bets; "Play the reaces"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
    --29 is one way to     bet, wager, play
    Derived form: noun play15
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  30. bet, wager, play - stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"
    --30 is one way to gamble
    Derived form: noun play15
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something
  31. play - shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
    --31 is one way to     hit
    Derived form: noun play4
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  32. play - use or move; "I had to play my queen"
    --32 is one way to     use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ
    Derived form: noun play3
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  33. play - employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
    --33 is one way to     use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ
    Derived form: noun play3
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s somebody
  34. meet, encounter, play, take on - contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"
    Derived forms: noun play9, noun playing2
    Sample sentences:
    Sam and Sue play
    Sam cannot play Sue
  35. play - exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"
    --35 is one way to     exhaust, wash up, beat, tucker, tucker out
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
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