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")
play -- (a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours")
play -- (a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team")
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")
play -- (a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play")
play -- (utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination")
bid, play -- (an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention")
play, child's play -- (activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child")
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")
free rein, play -- (the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent")
shimmer, play -- (a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water")
fun, play, sport -- (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")
looseness, play -- (movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel")
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")
turn, play -- ((game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play")
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")
play, swordplay -- (the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully)
Overview of verb play
The verb play has 35 senses
play -- (participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches")
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")
play -- (play on an instrument; "The band played all night long")
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")
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")
play, spiel -- (replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully")
play -- (perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?")
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")
play -- (move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians")
play -- (bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races")
play, recreate -- (engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike")
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")
play -- (emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered")
play -- (perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years")
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")
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 stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea")
play -- (behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair")
play, run -- (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")
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")
play -- (use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions")
dally, trifle, play -- (consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania")
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")
dally, toy, play, flirt -- (behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection")
play -- (cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack")
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'")
play -- (be performed or presented for public viewing; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years")
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")
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")
play -- (make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville")
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")
play -- (shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night")
play -- (use or move; "I had to play my queen")
play -- (employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base")
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")
play -- (exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish")
(Sound)
