Play

Play, plā, v.i. to engage in some amusing exercise: to take part in a game, or a piece of diversion: to gamble: to sport: to trifle: to move irregularly or (mech.) freely: to operate: to act in a theatre: to perform on a musical instrument: to practise a trick: to act a character: to act with repeated strokes.—v.t. to put in motion: to perform upon: to perform: to act a sportive part: to compete with.—n. amusement: any exercise for amusement: a contending for victory or for a prize: practice in a contest: gaming: action or use: manner of dealing, as fair-play: a dramatic composition: movement: room for action or motion: liberty of action.—ns. Play′-act′or, one who acts a part in a play: an actor; Play′-act′orism, the manner or habits of a play-actor; Play′-bill, a bill or advertisement of a play; Play′book, a book of plays or dramas; Play′-club, a wooden-headed golf-club used for driving the ball the longest distances; Play′-day, Play′-time, a day devoted to play: a holiday; Play′er, one who plays: an actor of plays or dramas: a trifler: a musician: a professional at cricket; Play′fellow, Play′mate, a fellow or mate in play or amusements.—adj. Play′ful, given to play: sportive.—adv. Play′fully.—ns. Play′fulness; Play′-gō′er, one who habitually attends the theatre; Play′-gō′ing; Play′-ground, a ground or place on which to play, esp. that connected with a school; Play′-house, a house where dramatic performances are represented: a theatre; Play′ing-card, one of a set of fifty-two cards used in playing games; Play′-mare, the hobby-horse, one of the chief parts in the ancient morris-dance; Play′thing, anything for playing with: a toy; Play′wright, Play′-writ′er, a writer of plays: one who adapts dramatic compositions for the stage.—Played out, worked to the end: used up: tired; Play fast and loose, to act in a tricky, inconstant way: to say one thing and do another; Play fine, at billiards, to strike the object-ball near the edge—opp. to Play full, to strike it nearer the centre than the edge; Play off, to show or display; Play up, to make a beginning of playing: to play more vigorously; Play upon, to trifle with: to delude.—A play upon words, a use of words so as to give them a double meaning; Bring into play, to bring into exercise or use; Come into play, to come into use; Hold in play, to keep the attention of. [A.S. plegan, to play.]