Définitions
1.VerbTo 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."
2.VerbTo toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless."Don't play with your food!; He's just playing with her affections."
3.VerbTo perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game)."He plays on three teams.; Who's playing now?; play football, play sports, play games; He plays left back for Mudchester Rovers; We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.; Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!"
4.VerbSpecifying a particular sporting role or position."He plays left back for Mudchester Rovers"
5.VerbTo compete against, in a game."We're playing one of the top teams in the next round."
6.VerbTo be the opposing score to."Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!"
7.VerbTo contend or fight using weapons, both as practice or in real life-or-death combats; to engage in martial games; to joust; to fence
8.VerbTo act or behave in a stated way."to play safe, to play fair, to play dirty; He plays dumb, but actually he's very clever.; Don't play the innocent with us."
9.VerbTo give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be."He plays dumb, but actually he's very clever.; Don't play the innocent with us."
10.VerbTo act as (the indicated role)."Stop playing the fool.; No part of the brain plays the role of permanent memory.; Who played Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind'?"
11.VerbTo portray (a character) in (a film or theatre)."Who played Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind'?"
12.VerbTo produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
To produce music using a musical instrument."I'll play the piano and you sing.; Can you play an instrument?; I've practiced the piano off and on, but I still can't play very well.; This piano plays out of tune.; You can play the DVD now.; Don't play your radio so loud!; Play the audio clip to hear how the word is pronounced.; Do you know how to play Für Elise on the piano?; We especially like to play jazz together.; She keeps playing 'Achy Breaky Heart' over and over again on her stereo.; The juke box is playing our favourite song.; The radio was playing in the background.; This DVD is scratched and won't play.; Channel 9 is playing that old comedy series again.; My cassette player won't play this worn-out old tape.; His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow.; Some kind of lounge music was playing in the background.; The band is playing large arenas nationwide.; to play a comedy"
13.VerbTo produce music using a musical instrument."I'll play the piano and you sing.; Can you play an instrument?; I've practiced the piano off and on, but I still can't play very well."
14.VerbTo produce music."This piano plays out of tune."
15.VerbTo operate (a device or media) so as to cause sound (especially music) or moving pictures to be produced."You can play the DVD now.; Don't play your radio so loud!; Play the audio clip to hear how the word is pronounced."
16.VerbTo 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?; We especially like to play jazz together.; She keeps playing 'Achy Breaky Heart' over and over again on her stereo."
17.VerbTo emit or relay sound (especially music) or moving pictures; to operate media."The juke box is playing our favourite song.; The radio was playing in the background.; This DVD is scratched and won't play.; Channel 9 is playing that old comedy series again.; My cassette player won't play this worn-out old tape."
18.VerbTo be performed, reproduced, or shown."His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow.; Some kind of lounge music was playing in the background."
19.VerbTo perform or give performances in or at (a venue or location)."The band is playing large arenas nationwide."
20.VerbTo act or perform (a play)."to play a comedy"
21.VerbTo move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
To move in a light or brisk manner."The fountain plays.; The leaves played in the wind.; The torch beam played around the room.; They played the jet of water onto the seat of the fire.; to play cannon upon a fortification"
22.VerbTo move in a light or brisk manner."The fountain plays.; The leaves played in the wind."
23.VerbTo 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.; They played the jet of water onto the seat of the fire.; to play cannon upon a fortification"
24.VerbTo move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro.
25.VerbTo bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy."That was a great shot he played!; He played the blue ball, but the green would have been a better choice.; When you're in a team, you have to play your part.; to play a trump in a card game, to play tricks, to play a joke"
26.VerbTo 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."
27.VerbTo 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.; In this business you have to play the percentages."
28.VerbTo be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down."This policy plays well with younger voters.; How will this play in the swing states?"
29.VerbTo gamble.
30.VerbTo keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
31.VerbTo manipulate, deceive, or swindle."You played me!"
32.VerbTo kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously."They don't play with the rules around here."
33.VerbTo take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
34.VerbFor 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.
35.NounActivity for amusement only, especially among the young."Children learn through play."
36.NounSimilar 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."
37.NounThe conduct, or course, of a game."Play was very slow in the first half.; After the rain break, play resumed at 3 o'clock.; The game was abandoned after 20 minutes' play"
38.NounThe 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.; When a chess piece is captured, it is removed from play.; That option has been removed from play."
39.NounAn individual's performance in a sport or game."His play has improved a lot this season."
40.NounA short sequence of action within a game."That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward."
41.NounAn action carried out when it is one's turn to play.
42.NounA literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue."This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays."
43.NounA theatrical performance featuring actors."We saw a two-act play in the theatre.; My kids are acting in the school play this Christmas."
44.NounAn 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.; Turpin signals the Metric Party's long-term play for housing reform"
45.NounA geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
46.NounMovement (of a pattern of light etc.)"the play of light and shadow across the boy's face"
47.NounFreedom to move."give play to your imagination; No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it.; Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous."
48.NounThe 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.; Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous."
49.NounSexual activity or sexual role-playing."petplay"
50.NounAn instance of watching or listening to media."That video of my cat falling off the piano has had ten thousand plays."
51.NounAn instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting."Their single got a play on the radio.; The song got a lot of play in the clubs."
52.NounA button that, when pressed, causes media to be played."press play"
53.NounAn instance of wordplay."play on words; The name Wiktionary is a play on the words wiki and dictionary."
54.NounActivity relating to martial combat or fighting."handplay, swordplay"