play
Cross references:
1. fun
1. play \'pla-\ n [ME, fr. OE plega; akin to OE plegan to play, MD pleyen]
1a: an act of briskly handling or using a weapon or instrument archaic
1b1: GAME, SPORT 1b2: the conduct, course, or action of a game 1b3: a
particular act or maneuver in a game obs 1c1: SEXUAL INTERCOURSE 1c2:
DALLIANCE 1d1: recreational activity; esp : the spontaneous activity of
child ren 1d2: JEST {said it in ~} 1d3: the act or an instance of playing
on words or speech sounds 1e: GAMBLING, GAMING 2a1: an act, way, or
manner of proceeding 2a2: DEAL, VENTURE 2b1: OPERATION, ACTIVITY 2b2:
brisk, fitful, or light movement 2b3: free or unimpeded motion (as of a
part of a machine); also : t he length or measure of such motion 2b4: scope
or opportunity for action 3a: the stage representation of an action or
story 3b: a dramatic composition : DRAMA : in condition or position to be
legitimately played - in play
2. play \'pla--*-b*l\ vi 1a: to engage in sport or recreation : FROLIC
1b1: to move aimlessly about : TRIFLE 1b2: to deal or behave frivolously
or mockingly : JEST 1b3: to deal in a light, speculative, or sportive
manner 1b4: to make use of double meaning or of the similarity of sound of
two wo rds for stylistic or humorous effect 2a: to take advantage {~ing
upon fears} 2b1: FLUTTER, FRISK 2b2: to move or operate in a lively,
irregular, or intermittent manner 2c: to move or function freely within
prescribed limits 2d: to discharge, eject, or fire repeatedly or so as to
make a stream {h oses ~ing on a fire} 3a1: to perform music {~ on a violin}
3a2: to sound in performance {the organ is ~ing} 3b1: to act on a stage
or other dramatic medium 3b2: SHOW, RUN {what's ~ing at the theater} 3c:
to lend itself to performance 4a: to engage or take part in a game 4b:
GAMBLE 4c1: to behave or conduct oneself in a specified way {~ safe} 4c2:
to feign a specified state or quality {~ dead} 4c3: to take part in or
assent to some activity : COOPERATE {@ along with his scheme} 1a1: to
engage in or occupy oneself with {~ baseball} 1a2: to engage in as if in a
game 1a3: to deal with, handle, or manage 1a4: EXPLOIT, MANIPULATE 1b:
to pretend to engage in {children ~ing house} 1c1: to perform or execute
for amusement or to deceive or mock {~ trick} 1c2: WREAK {~ havoc} 2a1:
to put on a performance of (a play) 2a2: to act in the character or part
of 2a3: to act or perform in {~ed leading theaters} 2b: to perform or act
the part of {~ the fool} 3a: to contend against in a game 3b1: to wager
in a game : STAKE 3b2: to make wagers on {~ the races} 3b3: to operate on
the basis of {~ a hunch} 3c: to put into action in a game 4a: to perform
(music) on an instrument {~ a waltz} 4b: to perform music upon {~ the
violin} 5a: WIELD, PLY 5b: to discharge, fire, or set off with continuous
effect 5c: to cause to move or operate lightly and irregularly or
intermittently 5d: to keep (a hooked fish) in action : COOPERATE -
play.able aj
Webster's English Dictionary