play

Etymology

From Middle English pleyen, playen, pleȝen, plæien, also Middle English plaȝen, plawen (compare English plaw), from Old English pleġan, pleoġan, plæġan, and Old English plegian, pleagian, plagian (“to play, exercise, etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *plehan (“to care about, be concerned with”) and Proto-West Germanic *plegōn (“to engage, move”); both perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *blek- (“to move, move about”), from Proto-Indo-European *bal- (compare Ancient Greek βλύω (blúō), βλύζω (blúzō, “I gush out, spring”), Sanskrit बल्बलीति (balbalīti, “it whirls, twirls”)). cognates and related terms Cognate with Scots play (“to act or move briskly, cause to move, stir”), Saterland Frisian pleegje (“to look after, care for, maintain”), West Frisian pleegje, pliigje (“to commit, perform, bedrive”), Middle Dutch pleyen ("to dance, leap for joy, rejoice, be glad"; compare Modern Dutch pleien (“to play a particular children's game”)), Dutch plegen (“to commit, bedrive, practice”), German pflegen (“to care for, be concerned with, attend to, tend”). Related also to Old English plēon (“to risk, endanger”). More at plight, pledge. The noun is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, plega, plæġa (“play, quick motion, movement, exercise; (athletic) sport, game; festivity, drama; battle; gear for games, an implement for a game; clapping with the hands, applause”), deverbative of plegian (“to play”); see above.

verb

1. (intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
   They played long and hard.
   A youngster[…]listed some of the things his pet did not do:[…]go on vacation, play in the same way that he did with his friends, and so on. 2001, Annabelle Sabloff, Reordering the Natural World, Univ. of Toronto Press, page 83
   We had to play for an hour, so that meant that we didn't have time to play and joke around. 2003, Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont et al. (eds.), Joining Society: Social Interaction and Learning in Adolescence and Youth, Cambridge Univ. Press, p.52
2. (transitive, intransitive) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
   1. (transitive) To compete against, in a game.
      We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.
      England will not be catapulted among the favourites for Euro 2012 as a result of this win, but no victory against Spain is earned easily and it is right they take great heart from their efforts as they now prepare to play Sweden at Wembley on Tuesday. November 12, 2011, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport
   2. (transitive) (in the scoring of games and sports) To be the opposing score to.
      Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!
3. (intransitive) To take part in amorous activity; to make love.
4. To gamble.
   “I play, comparatively, very little; I don't drink a fifth part so much as half the people I live with; and I reckon myself, upon the whole, a very orderly, sober fellow.” 1791, Charlotte Smith, Celestina, Broadview, published 2004, page 407
5. (transitive) To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance.
   He plays the King, and she’s the Queen.
   No part of the brain plays the role of permanent memory.
   I'm not a doctor, but I do play one on TV. 1984, Chris Robinson, commercial for Vicks Formula 44
   In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual. 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3
   An opening sequence, featuring a de-aged Ford playing a younger Indy, is a bold and nostalgic gambit, offering a glimpse of what you've missed. 29 June 2023, City AM, London, page 18, column 2
6. (multiple senses, transitive, intransitive) To produce music or theatre.
   1. (intransitive, of a music) To produce music.
      If your guitar plays well on fretted strings but annoys you on the open ones, the nut's probably worn out. 2007, Dan Erlewine, Guitar Player Repair Guide, page 220
   2. (intransitive, especially of a person) To produce music using a musical instrument.
      I've practiced the piano off and on, but I still can't play very well.
   3. (transitive, especially of a person) To produce music (or a specified song or musical style) using (a specified musical instrument).
      I'll play the piano and you sing.
      Can you play an instrument?
      We especially like to play jazz together.
      Play a song for me.
      Do you know how to play Für Elise?
      My son thinks he can play music.
   4. (transitive, ergative) To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording.
      You can play the DVD now.
   5. (intransitive, of a theatrical performance) To be performed; (or of a film) to be shown.
      His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow.
   6. (transitive, of a theatrical company or band, etc.) To perform in or at; to give performances in or at.
      I got a hold of Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong's agent and I explained to him on the phone that, "I know you're playing London on Wednesday night. Why don't you come and play the Arena in Windsor on Saturday night?" 2008, My Life: From Normandy to Hockeytown, page 30
   7. (transitive) To act or perform (a play).
      to play a comedy
7. (multiple senses) To behave in a particular way.
   1. (copulative) Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being.
      Playing hard to get is not the same as slamming the door in someone's face. 1985, Sharon S. Brehm, Intimate Relationships
      Now, surveying his final link, he had the nice advantage of being able to play coy with established port cities that desperately wanted his proven railroad. 1996, Michael P. Malone, James J Hill: Empire Builder of the Northwest
      Instead, they played dumb, remained silent, and did their classwork. 2003, John U. Ogbu, Black American Students in an Affluent Suburb: A Study of Academic Disengagement, page 194
   2. (intransitive) To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.
   3. (intransitive) To act; to behave; to practice deception.
   4. (transitive) To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute.
      to play tricks
   5. (African-American Vernacular, intransitive) To kid; to joke; say something for amusement.
      He grew serious. “Sorry, E.M. Just fucking around.” “Well, I don’t play like that and you know it.” 2016, T. Styles, “seventeen”, in Clown Niggas, United States of America: The Cartel Publications, →LCCN, page 161
8. (transitive, intransitive) To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate.
   The fountain plays.
   He played the torch beam around the room.
   The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play. 1705, George Cheyne, Philosophical Principles of Religion
   The Poet and the Painter Casting shadows on the water As the sun plays on the infantry Returning from the sea. 1972, “Thick As A Brick”, Ian Anderson (lyrics), performed by Jethro Tull
9. (intransitive) To move to and fro.
10. (transitive) To put in action or motion.
    to play cannon upon a fortification
    to play a trump in a card game
11. (transitive) To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
12. (transitive, colloquial) To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone.
    You played me!
    If this our song, you're the composer I'm not a game, but you play me anyway 2020, “Ballad Of You & I”, performed by Hotel Lux

noun

1. (uncountable, formerly countable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
   Children learn through play.
   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.
2. (uncountable) Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
   This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills.
3. (uncountable) The conduct, or course, of a game.
   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
4. (uncountable) An individual's performance in a sport or game.
   His play has improved a lot this season.
5. (countable) A short sequence of action within a game.
   That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward.
6. (countable, turn-based games) An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.
   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. 2009, Joe Edley, John Williams, Everything Scrabble: Third Edition, page 85
7. (countable) A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
   This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays.
8. (countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.
   We saw a two-act play in the theatre.
9. (countable) An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.
   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
10. (countable) A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
11. (uncountable) Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)
    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. 1956, Nyanatiloka Mahåthera, Fundamentals of Buddhism Four Lectures
12. (uncountable) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack.
    No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it.
    Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous.
13. (uncountable, informal) Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.
    The rarity of male domination in fantasy play is readily explained. 1996, Sabrina P Ramet, Gender reversals and gender cultures
    Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play 1996, "toptigger", (on Internet newsgroup alt.personals.spanking.punishment)
    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. 2013, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Best Bondage Erotica 2014
    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. 2014, Jiri T. Servant, Facts About Bondage - Bondage Guide For Beginners
14. (countable) An instance of watching or listening to digital media.
    The most-streamed artist of the year was British singer Ed Sheeran, who amassed 860 million plays with hits like “I See Fire.” Dec 3 2014, Victor Luckerson, “These Were Spotify's Most-Streamed Songs This Year”, in Time
15. (countable) A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
16. (archaic, now usually in compounds) Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
    handplay, swordplay