play
/plei/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- Activity for enjoyment or recreation: An activity engaged in for amusement, often involving children or leisure.
- A dramatic work for the stage: A piece of writing intended to be performed by actors in a theater.
- Participation in a game or sport: The action or manner of engaging in a game with rules.
- Freedom of movement: The space or scope for free movement or operation.
- The operation or influence of something: The way in which something, like light or imagination, manifests or operates.
- A strategic move or action: A planned action in a game or situation.
Verb:
- Engage in activity for enjoyment: To take part in a recreational or amusing activity.
- Perform on a musical instrument: To produce music from an instrument.
- Take part in a game or sport: To compete or participate in a game.
- Portray a role: To act the part of a character in a performance.
- Cause something to operate or emit: To cause something to function or to emit sound/light.
- Behave in a particular way: To act or conduct oneself in a specified manner.
- Treat something lightly: To handle or consider something without seriousness.
- Gamble: To bet money on an outcome.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The children were engaged in imaginative play.
- We went to see a play by Shakespeare.
- Rain stopped play in the cricket match.
- There is too much play in the steering wheel.
Verb:
- The kids play in the park every evening.
- She can play the piano beautifully.
- Our team will play against the champions next week.
- He played the villain in the movie.
- Please play the next track.
Advanced Usage
"bring/call into play": To cause something to become active or effective.
- The new evidence brought all his skills into play.
"give free/full play to": To allow something complete freedom or expression.
- The artist was given free play to her imagination.
"in play":
- (In games) Still active or valid.
- The ball is still in play.
- (In finance) Available for acquisition or subject to activity.
- The company is now in play as a takeover target.
"make a play for": To attempt to obtain or attract.
- He made a play for the leadership position.
Variants and Related Words
- Player (n): A person who plays a game or sport, or a participant in an activity.
- Playful (adj): Fond of games and amusement; light-hearted.
- Playable (adj): (Of a field, instrument, or media file) in a condition to be used for play.
- Playacting (n): The action of acting in a play or pretending.
- Playback (n): The act of reproducing recorded sound or video.
Synonyms
- Noun: Game, recreation, drama, performance, maneuver, latitude.
- Verb: Engage, perform, compete, act, operate, fiddle, gamble.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Play along: To cooperate or pretend to agree, often temporarily.
- He decided to play along with their plan for now.
Play at:
- To pretend to be or do something.
- The children were playing at being astronauts.
- To engage in an activity without seriousness.
- He's just playing at being a businessman.
Play back: To replay recorded sound or images.
- Can you play back the last message?
Play down: To minimize the importance of something.
- The minister played down the crisis.
Play off against: To set two parties against each other for one's own advantage.
- He tried to play his rivals off against each other.
Play on: To exploit or take advantage of (feelings, fears, etc.).
- The advertisement plays on people's desire for security.
Play out:
- To unfold or happen.
- Let's see how the situation plays out.
- To perform or enact.
- The tragedy was played out on the national stage.
Play up:
- To emphasize or highlight.
- The report plays up the economic benefits.
- (British) To cause problems or not work properly.
- My knee has been playing up again.
Related Idioms
Play it by ear: To act according to the circumstances without a fixed plan.
- We don't have a schedule; let's just play it by ear.
Play for time: To delay something in order to gain more time.
- His lengthy questions were just a way to play for time.
Play hard to get: To pretend a lack of interest to increase desire.
- She's playing hard to get, but I know she likes him.
Play into someone's hands: To act in a way that gives an advantage to an opponent.
- By arguing so emotionally, you're playing right into their hands.
Play it safe: To avoid taking risks.
- I think I'll play it safe and invest in government bonds.
Play second fiddle: To have a less important role than someone else.
- He tired of playing second fiddle to his more famous brother.
Play with fire: To take foolish risks.
- Not declaring your income is playing with fire.
Noun
- the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
- 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
- (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
- it is my turn
- it is still my play
- 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
- movement or space for movement
- there was too much play in the steering wheel
- verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)
- he became a figure of fun
- he said it in sport
- a weak and tremulous light
- the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers
- the play of light on the water
- the removal of constraints
- he gave free rein to his impulses
- they gave full play to the artist's talent
- (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
- rain stopped play in the 4th inning
- activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules
- Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child
- an attempt to get something
- they made a futile play for power
- he made a bid to gain attention
- utilization or exercise
- the play of the imagination
- a state in which action is feasible
- the ball was still in play
- insiders said the company's stock was in play
- a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill
- he made a great maneuver
- the runner was out on a play by the shortstop
- a preset plan of action in team sports
- the coach drew up the plays for her team
- a theatrical performance of a drama
- the play lasted two hours
- a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
- he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway
Verb
- exhaust by allowing to pull on the line
- play a hooked fish
- contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
- Princeton plays Yale this weekend
- Charlie likes to play Mary
- employ in a game or in a specific position
- They played him on first base
- use or move
- I had to play my queen
- shoot or hit in a particular manner
- She played a good backhand last night
- stake on the outcome of an issue
- I bet $100 on that new horse
- She played all her money on the dark horse
- make bets
- Play the races
- play the casinos in Trouville
- discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream
- play water from a hose
- The fountains played all day
- 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
- be performed or presented for public viewing
- What's playing in the local movie theater?
- `Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years
- perform on a stage or theater
- She acts in this play
- He acted in `Julius Caesar'
- I played in `A Christmas Carol'
- cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space
- The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack
- behave carelessly or indifferently
- Play about with a young girl's affection
- 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
- consider not very seriously
- He is trifling with her
- She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania
- use to one's advantage
- She plays on her clients' emotions
- 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
- 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
- behave in a certain way
- play safe
- play it safe
- play fair
- engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously
- They played games on their opponents
- play the stock market
- play with her feelings
- toy with an idea
- 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
- perform on a certain location
- The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16
- She has been playing on Broadway for years
- emit recorded sound
- The tape was playing for hours
- the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered
- pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity
- Let's play like I am mommy
- Play cowboy and Indians
- engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion
- On weekends I play
- The students all recreate alike
- bet or wager (money)
- He played $20 on the new horse
- She plays the races
- move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly
- The spotlights played on the politicians
- pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
- He acted the idiot
- She plays deaf when the news are bad
- perform music on (a musical instrument)
- He plays the flute
- Can you play on this old recorder?
- replay (as a melody)
- Play it again, Sam
- She played the third movement very beautifully
- 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
- 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 on an instrument
- The band played all night long
- 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
- participate in games or sport
- We played hockey all afternoon
- play cards
- Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches