Meaning of play | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
   uncountable
2. Dave & Buster's.
3. Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
   uncountable
4. game; sport
5. The conduct, or course, of a game.
   uncountable
6. gaming
7. The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is available to be played (see also in play, out of play).
   also, figuratively, uncountable
8. set
9. An individual's performance in a sport or game.
   uncountable
10. kit
11. A short sequence of action within a game.
    countable
12. An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.
    countable, uncountable
13. A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
    countable
14. A theatrical performance featuring actors.
    countable
15. An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.
    countable
16. A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
    countable
17. Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)
    uncountable
18. Freedom to move.
    uncountable
19. The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack.
    countable, uncountable
20. Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.
    informal, uncountable
21. An instance of watching or listening to media.
    countable
22. An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting.
    countable, uncountable
23. A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
    countable
24. An instance of wordplay.
    countable
25. Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
    archaic, countable, in-compounds, uncountable, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“Children learn through play.”

“She was fond of all boys' plays, and greatly preferred cricket […] to dolls […]”

“1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure You know, when I was around 7-11 years old, my favorite play would be "boys." One of us, Bridget, Maryellen, or I, would say "Let's play boys." We all had boy names, set up the pretend surroundings, and acted like boys.”

“This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills.”

“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”

“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.”

“His play has improved a lot this season.”

“That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward.”

“AWARD is better than either WARED or WADER. However, there's an even better play! If you have looked at the two-to-make-three letter list, you may have noticed the word AWA.”

“This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays.”

“We saw a two-act play in the theatre.”

“My kids are acting in the school play this Christmas.”

“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”

“the play of light and shadow across the boy's face”

“the sum of mental and physical phenomena known by the conventional name “person” or “individual” is not at all the mere play of blind chance.”

“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.”

“petplay”

“Sexy LF novice seeks seasoned top to spice up my play life. Teach me a lesson I won't forget.”

“The rarity of male domination in fantasy play is readily explained.”

“Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play”

“There were none of the usual restrictions on public nudity or sexual interaction in the club environment. Still, the night was young, and as he'd made his way to the bar to order Mistress Ramona a gin and tonic, he'd seen little in the way of play.”

“This type of play allows some people to relax and enjoy being given pleasure without having to think about giving pleasure back at the same time.”

“That video of my cat falling off the piano has had ten thousand plays.”

“The most-streamed artist of the year was British singer Ed Sheeran, who amassed 860 million plays with hits like “I See Fire.””

“Their single got a play on the radio.”

“The song got a lot of play in the clubs.”

“press play”

“play on words”

“The name Wiktionary is a play on the words wiki and dictionary.”

“handplay, swordplay”

“Dave and Buster’s (PLAY), the popular restaurant and entertainment chain, is getting into the betting business.”

CEFR level