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play [n]

1)	a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"

Synonyms :

drama dramatic_play

2)	a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"

Synonyms :

See Also:

show act act musical curtain_raiser

3)	a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"

Synonyms :

4)	a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"

Synonyms :

maneuver manoeuvre

See Also:

motion athletic_game channelise takeaway figure completion ball_hawking assist icing jugglery obstruction footwork shot blitz mousetrap

5)	a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"

Synonyms :

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action

6)	utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"

Synonyms :

See Also:

employment

7)	an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"

Synonyms :

bid

See Also:

attempt bid

8)	play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"

Synonyms :

child's_play

See Also:

diversion house doctor fireman

9)	(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"

Synonyms :

period_of_play playing_period

See Also:

amount athletic_game game encounter golf_hole chukka frame set bout first_period second_period third_period final_period half period quarter over

10)

the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"

Synonyms :

free_rein

See Also:

freedom

11)

a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"

Synonyms :

shimmer

See Also:

alteration shimmer shimmer

12)

verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"

Synonyms :

fun sport

See Also:

humor jocosity waggery clowning paronomasia

13)

movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"

Synonyms :

looseness

See Also:

movability tautness wiggliness slack

14)

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"

Synonyms :

caper frolic gambol romp

See Also:

diversion caper cavort coquetry craziness game horseplay teasing word_play

15)

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"

Synonyms :

gambling gaming

See Also:

diversion vice bet back gamble sporting_life bet gambling_game unlicensed_gambling throw

16)

the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"

Synonyms :

turn

See Also:

activity game move start innings attack down at-bat lead ruff

17)

the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully

Synonyms :

swordplay

See Also:

action fencing

play [v]

1)	participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

Synonyms :

See Also:

compete period_of_play player participant playing play_out curl snooker revoke develop develop die misplay start fumble volley unblock replay cricket backstop fullback quarterback cradle exit encounter field catch bully_off tee_off ace complete gamble walk bowl golf bandy foul put_out croquet putt seesaw bid

2)	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"

Synonyms :

See Also:

act

3)	play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"

Synonyms :

See Also:

perform music instrumentalist playing sound_off swing symphonise accompany bow

4)	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"

Synonyms :

act represent

See Also:

act act re-create performing_arts histrionics drama actor acting act make support act_out act_out impersonate parody emote

5)	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"

Synonyms :

See Also:

act caper child's_play playing arse_around cavort dabble

6)	replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"

Synonyms :

spiel

See Also:

re-create playing riff misplay fiddle replay prelude jazz rag bugle recapitulate slur bang_out modulate tongue

7)	perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"

Synonyms :

See Also:

sound music music playing register skirl beat tweedle chord pipe drum harp fiddle trumpet clarion

8)	pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

Synonyms :

act act_as

See Also:

act act act

9)	move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"

Synonyms :

See Also:

10)

bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"

Synonyms :

See Also:

gamble gambling underplay

11)

engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"

Synonyms :

recreate

See Also:

diversion caper playing

12)

pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"

Synonyms :

See Also:

assume act

13)

emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"

Synonyms :

See Also:

sound

14)

perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"

Synonyms :

See Also:

perform performing_arts drama act

15)

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"

Synonyms :

See Also:

deploy gambling pitch cover declare

16)

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"

Synonyms :

toy

See Also:

act plaything playing

17)

behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"

Synonyms :

See Also:

act

18)

cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"

Synonyms :

run

See Also:

run execute

19)

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"

Synonyms :

diddle fiddle toy

See Also:

manipulate fiddler entertain put_out

20)

use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"

Synonyms :

See Also:

exploit maneuver

21)

consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"

Synonyms :

dally trifle

See Also:

consider dally

22)

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"

Synonyms :

See Also:

23)

behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection"

Synonyms :

dally flirt toy

See Also:

dally act coquetry

24)

cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"

Synonyms :

See Also:

displace looseness

25)

perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"

Synonyms :

act playact roleplay

See Also:

perform dramatic_art barnstormer acting roleplaying drama actor act act stooge mime ham underact act

26)

be performed; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

Synonyms :

See Also:

performing_arts drama debut act

27)

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"

Synonyms :

bring make_for work wreak

See Also:

create arrange bring_about bring_on bring_about bring_off arouse act

28)

discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"

Synonyms :

See Also:

discharge

29)

make bets; "Play the reaces"; "play the casinos in Trouville"

Synonyms :

See Also:

bet gambling

30)

stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"

Synonyms :

bet wager

See Also:

gamble gambling bet bet better back raise see

31)

shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"

Synonyms :

See Also:

encounter hit maneuver hook

32)

use or move; "I had to play my queen"

Synonyms :

See Also:

encounter apply promote

33)

employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"

Synonyms :

See Also:

encounter apply

34)

contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"

Synonyms :

encounter meet take_on

See Also:

compete period_of_play playing brush meet confront replay

35)

exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"

Synonyms :

See Also:

beat

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing: (http://www.foldoc.org/, Editor Denis Howe)

A language for real-time music synthesis. 1977.

["An Introduction to the Play Program", J. Chadabe ete al, Computer Music J 2,1 (1978)].

(1999-06-04)

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