Definition of play:

• To do something, not as a task or for profit, but as amusement; to sport; to frolic; to toy; to trifle; to contend in a game; to perform on a musical instrument; to act; to act a part on the stage.
• To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.
• To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.
• To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.
• To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball.
• To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
• To engage in ( some pastime) for amusement; as, to play ball; to make believe; as, to play school; perform; as, to play a waltz on a piano; to perform music on; as, to play the violin; to act in the character of; as, to play Hamlet.
• To put in motion: to perform upon: to perform: to act a sportive part: to compete with.
• To put in action; perform.
• To engage in ( a game); produce or act in ( a drama).
• To perform upon, as a musical instrument.
• To put into action.
• To move back and forth; as, wind, fire, or lightning, plays; to sport or frolic; to gamble; to perform on a musical instrument; to act on the stage.
• To engage in some exercise or in a game: to sport: to trifle: to move irregularly: to operate: to act in a theatre: to perform on a musical instrument: to practice a trick: to act a character: to gamble.
• To sport; engage in a game; act; perform on; gamble.
• stake on the outcome of an issue; " I bet $ 100 on that new horse"; " She played all her money on the dark horse"
• 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"
• 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"
• contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; " Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; " Charlie likes to play Mary"
• 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"
• 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"
• perform on a stage or theater; " She acts in this play"; " He acted in ` Julius Caesar'"; " I played in ` A Christmas Carol'"
• To engage in play.
• To gamble.
• To act with levity; trifle.
• To behave; act.
• To move freely.
• To put in action or motion; to use an instrument of music; to act; to perform in character or in a contest. To play off, to display. To play upon, to deceive.
• To put into action, motion, or operation; to perform on, as a musical instrument; to act; to exhibit or represent, as a piece in a theatre; to use some exercise for amusement or recreation; to toy or trifle; to give a fanciful turn to, as to a word; to make sport with or upon; to mock; to practise deception upon; to personate in a drama; to gamble.
• Playing.
• 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"
• play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; " Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
• movement or space for movement; " there was too much play in the steering wheel"
• ( in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; " rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
• the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; " it is my turn"; " it is still my play"
• a preset plan of action in team sports; " the coach drew up the plays for her team"
• utilization or exercise; " the play of the imagination"
• a theatrical performance of a drama; " the play lasted two hours"
• a weak and tremulous light; " the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; " the play of light on the water"
• a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; " he made a great maneuver"; " the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
• a state in which action is feasible; " the ball was still in play"; " insiders said the company's stock was in play"
• exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; " play a hooked fish"
• participate in games or sport; " We played hockey all afternoon"; " play cards"; " Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
• employ in a game or in a specific position; " They played him on first base"
• use or move; " I had to play my queen"
• shoot or hit in a particular manner; " She played a good backhand last night"
• bet or wager ( money); " He played $ 20 on the new horse"; " She plays the races"
• 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"
• make bets; " Play the reaces"; " play the casinos in Trouville"
• use to one's advantage; " She plays on her clients' emotions"
• discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; " play water from a hose"; " The fountains played all day"
• perform on a certain location; " The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; " She has been playing on Broadway for years"
• be performed; " What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "` Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
• cause to emit recorded sounds; " They ran the tapes over and over again"; " Can you play my favorite record?"
• emit recorded sound; " The tape was playing for hours"; " the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
• pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; " Let's play like I am mommy"; " Play cowboy and Indians"
• replay ( as a melody); " Play it again, Sam"; " She played the third movement very beautifully"
• play on an instrument; " The band played all night long"
• perform music on ( a musical instrument); " He plays the flute"; " Can you play on this old recorder?"
• move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; " The spotlights played on the politicians"
• cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; " The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
• 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"
• 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"
• behave in a certain way; " play safe"; " play it safe"; " play fair"
• To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
• To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.
• To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.
• To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.
• To act; to behave; to practice deception.
• To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.
• To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.
• To act on the stage; to personate a character.
• Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.
• Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.
• The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play.
• Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit.
• A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.
• The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.
• Performance on an instrument of music.
• Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action.
• Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth.
• Any exercise or occupation for amusement; diversion; pastime; freedom or room to act; as, to give one’ s arm full play in throwing a ball; rapid and energetic action or motion; exercise of mental powers; as, a play of wit or fancy; a drama, as a tragedy, comedy, etc.; gambling; as, to lose money at play; one’ s turn to move a piece, lay down a card, etc., in a game; fun; jest; as, she did it in play; manner of dealing; as, fair play.
• Any exercise for amusement: amusement: a contending for victory: practice in a contest: gaming: action or use: manner of dealing, as fair- play: a dramatic composition: movement: room for motion: liberty of action.
• Sport; game; action; room for action; drama.
• Action for amusement only; exercise; competitive trial; also, gambling.
• A dramatic composition.
• Freedom of movement.
• Player.
• Any exercise or series of actions intended for pleasure or diversion, as billiards, cricket, & c.; amusement; game; practice in any contest; action; a dramatic composition; dramatic performance; performance on a musical instrument; motion; room for motion; liberty of action; scope.
• Occupation or exercise of any kind to afford pleasure or diversion; not work; sport; recreation; contest, as in a game; gambling; jest; not in earnest; swing; freedom of action to and fro; practice; action; a dramatic composition, or the representation of it at a theatre; an exhibition or display, as of colours flitting or twisting.
• imagined as in a play; " the make- believe world of theater"; " play money"; " dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish"
• Played.

Usage examples for play

1. For, indeed, my work in France was but child's play to this, neither was there any danger in France such as was here.  Oddsfish! by Robert Hugh Benson

2. Why does some one else not play?"  In the Courts of Memory 1858-1875. by L. de Hegermann-Lindencrone

3. As it was they could do nothing, except play with each other's feet beneath the table.  Furze the Cruel by John Trevena

4. Have you anybody to play with?  The Cuckoo Clock by Mrs. Molesworth