play [ play ]
Verb
They fell into silence, watching their children play together.
After dinner that night we played cards for a while.
As a boy, I used to play cowboys and Indians all the time.
As a young man he loved sport, playing baseball, football and hockey.
He plays to win; that's why he is the great golfer he is.
the team will play France on Wednesday
Edilson played up front in place of the suspended Ronaldinho.
James Keddy played the ball down the left wing for Robbie Doyle.
The wicket wasn't playing that easily, but he knew which shots worked for him on that wicket and was able to adapt his game to that.
Eriksson still has not worked out the best partnership to play up front.
Note that the game very often ends in the middle before all the cards are played.
His happiness relies on a visit to the casino to play the slot machines.
he needs financial backing, but the building societies won't play
In my next film I'm playing a really intense character and I'm nervous.
In The Silver Fleet, she plays opposite another star of the London stage, Ralph Richardson.
the show was one of the best we ever played
Suzanne Vega plays the City Hall, Salisbury on 27 June.
His call for an early election was an attempt to play the hero again.
He was a keen musician and played the guitar in a local band.
he taught himself to play the violin
Pupils played classical pieces as well as songs from films and shows.
Sometimes, just every now and again they play a track I actually like.
somewhere within, a harp was playing
Brother James, would you play the girls in please?
little beams of light played over the sea
In the centre of the lush garden, an elaborate marble fountain played, spraying sparkling jewels of water into the air.
Remember the whole rod should be used in playing the fish.
Noun
The sounds of children at play can be heard.
I flinched, but only in play
play families are arranged in play houses
Each day's play starts at 10 am.
Superb play by Dave Armstrong earned him the man of the match award and a goal.
So why not let the computer decide when a ball is in play and keep time for us.
I suspect there is an element of wounded national pride at play here.
the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs
a young nobleman, ruined by play
I went to see a double bill of two plays by Harold Pinter.
the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play
It also recognises the fact that the free play of markets creates problems for society.
The deliberate use of an uneven surface allows for the greater play of light.
Play around
British
was her husband playing around?
Play along
Nicky, of course, was perfectly happy to play along with this.
we tried to play along to the acoustic guitar
Jackie Lye as Gill the good time girl playing Mark along is certainly lust on legs and captures this temptress perfectly.
Play off
the runners-up will play off against each other
detectives employ more than one informant so as to play one off against the other
Play up to
the actors clearly have fun playing up to their stereotypes
Play on
he played on his opponent's nerves
Play back
I did a lot of recording and then played it back
Play out
The legal wrangle is yet to play out in the courts.
You're going to be surprised to find out where it's playing out.
On 21st November, 1953, the final scene in the saga was played out.
There was nowhere else I could go. I was played out.
the melodrama is a little played out to be entirely satisfying
Play with
she was playing with her hair
she likes to play with people's emotions
Play down
he tried to play down the seriousness of his illness
Play for
don't imagine you can play me for a fool
Play away
all these matches will be played away from home
If you can live with that (and without your current BF when he finds out), play away!
Play up
Fianna Fáil were wary of playing up their chances.
I hadn't had much sleep—the kids had been playing up
The dishwasher's playing up, but it should be all right by the time we open.
My knee is still playing me up and I'm still walking with a limp.
Insofar as basketball is concerned, if he is already playing up, teach him the game as you would the older players.
Play at
it would be wrong to assume that he is simply playing at politics
what on earth do you think you're playing at?

