English dictionary
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English noun: play | |||
| 1. | play (communication) a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage | ||
| Samples | He wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway. | ||
| Synonyms | drama, dramatic play | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | dramatic composition, dramatic work | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | Grand Guignol, miracle play, morality play, mystery play, Passion play, playlet, satyr play, theater of the absurd | ||
| Part holonym | act, stage direction | ||
| Domain category | drama | ||
| 2. | play (communication) a theatrical performance of a drama | ||
| Samples | The play lasted two hours. | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | show | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | curtain raiser, musical, musical comedy, musical theater | ||
| 3. | play (act) a preset plan of action in team sports | ||
| Samples | The coach drew up the plays for her team. | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | plan of action | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | basketball play, football play, knock on, power play, razmataz, razzle, razzle-dazzle, razzmatazz | ||
| 4. | play (act) a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill | ||
| Samples | He made a great maneuver. The runner was out on a play by the shortstop. | ||
| Synonyms | maneuver, manoeuvre | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | motion, move, movement | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | assist, ball hawking, baseball play, blitz, completion, figure, footwork, icing, icing the puck, jugglery, linebacker blitzing, mousetrap, obstruction, pass completion, safety blitz, shot, stroke, takeaway, trap play | ||
| Part meronym | athletic game | ||
| 5. | play (state) a state in which action is feasible | ||
| Samples | The ball was still in play. Insiders said the company's stock was in play. | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | action, activeness, activity | ||
| 6. | play (act) utilization or exercise | ||
| Samples | The play of the imagination. | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | employment, exercise, usage, use, utilisation, utilization | ||
| 7. | play (act) an attempt to get something | ||
| Samples | They made a futile play for power. He made a bid to gain attention. | ||
| Synonyms | bid | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try | ||
| 8. | play (act) activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules | ||
| Samples | Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child. | ||
| Synonyms | child's play | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | diversion, recreation | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | doctor, fireman, house | ||
| 9. | play (time) (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds | ||
| Samples | Rain stopped play in the 4th inning. | ||
| Synonyms | period of play, playing period | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | amount, measure, quantity | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | golf hole, hole, set | ||
| Part holonym | bout, chukka, chukker, final period, first period, frame, half, inning, over, period, quarter, round, second period, turn | ||
| Part meronym | athletic game | ||
| Domain category | game | ||
| 10. | play (state) the removal of constraints | ||
| Samples | He gave free rein to his impulses. They gave full play to the artist's talent. | ||
| Synonyms | free rein | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | freedom | ||
| 11. | play (event) a weak and tremulous light | ||
| Samples | The shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers. The play of light on the water. | ||
| Synonyms | shimmer | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | alteration, change, modification | ||
| 12. | play (communication) verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously) | ||
| Samples | He became a figure of fun. He said it in sport. | ||
| Synonyms | fun, sport | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | humor, humour, wit, witticism, wittiness | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | clowning, comedy, drollery, funniness, jocosity, jocularity, paronomasia, pun, punning, waggery, waggishness, wordplay | ||
| 13. | play (attribute) movement or space for movement | ||
| Samples | There was too much play in the steering wheel. | ||
| Synonyms | looseness | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | movability, movableness | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | slack, slackness, wiggliness | ||
| Antonyms | tautness, tightness | ||
| 14. | play (act) gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement | ||
| Samples | It was all done in play. Their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly. | ||
| Synonyms | caper, frolic, gambol, romp | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | diversion, recreation | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | coquetry, craziness, dalliance, flirt, flirtation, flirting, folly, foolery, game, horseplay, indulgence, lunacy, teasing, tomfoolery, toying, word play | ||
| 15. | play (act) (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession | ||
| Samples | It is my turn. It is still my play. | ||
| Synonyms | turn | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | activity | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | at-bat, attack, bat, down, innings, lead, move, ruff, start, starting, trick, trumping | ||
| Domain category | game | ||
| 16. | play (act) the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize) | ||
| Samples | His gambling cost him a fortune. There was heavy play at the blackjack table. | ||
| Synonyms | gambling, gaming | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | diversion, recreation, vice | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | bet, gambling game, game of chance, sporting life, throw, wager | ||
| 17. | play (act) the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully | ||
| Synonyms | swordplay | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | action | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | fencing | ||
English verb: play | |||
| 1. | play (competition) participate in games or sport | ||
| Samples | We played hockey all afternoon. Play cards. Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | compete, contend, vie | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | ace, backstop, bandy, bid, bowl, bully off, call, catch, complete, cradle, cricket, croquet, curl, develop, develop, die, exit, face off, field, foul, fullback, fumble, gamble, golf, line up, misplay, nail, play out, put out, putt, quarterback, replay, revoke, seesaw, snooker, start, tee off, teeter-totter, teetertotter, unblock, volley, walk | ||
| Verb group | encounter, meet, play, take on | ||
| 2. | play (social) act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome | ||
| Samples | This factor played only a minor part in his decision. This development played into her hands. I played no role in your dismissal. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | act, move | ||
| Verb group | play | ||
| 3. | play (creation) play on an instrument | ||
| Samples | The band played all night long. | ||
| Examples | Sam and Sue play | ||
| Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | perform | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | accompany, bow, busk, follow, play along, sound off, strike up, swing, symphonise, symphonize | ||
| Verb group | play, play, spiel | ||
| Domain category | music | ||
| 4. | play (creation) play a role or part | ||
| Samples | Gielgud played Hamlet. She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role. She played the servant to her husband's master. | ||
| Synonyms | act, represent | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | re-create | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | act out, act out, emote, enact, impersonate, make, make believe, parody, portray, pretend, reenact, support | ||
| Verb group | act, act, act as, play, play, play, playact, roleplay | ||
| Domain category | performing arts | ||
| 5. | play (social) be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children | ||
| Samples | The kids were playing outside all day. I used to play with trucks as a little girl. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | act | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | arse around, cavort, dabble, disport, fool, fool around, frisk, frolic, gambol, horse around, lark, lark about, paddle, rollick, romp, roughhouse, run around, skylark, splash around, sport | ||
| Verb group | play, recreate | ||
| 6. | play (creation) replay (as a melody) | ||
| Samples | Play it again, Sam. She played the third movement very beautifully. | ||
| Examples | They will play the duet | ||
| Synonyms | spiel | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | re-create | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | bang out, bugle, fiddle, jazz, misplay, modulate, prelude, rag, recapitulate, repeat, replay, reprise, reprize, riff, slur, tongue | ||
| Verb group | play | ||
| 7. | play (creation) perform music on (a musical instrument) | ||
| Samples | He plays the flute. Can you play on this old recorder?. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | sound | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | beat, chord, clarion, drum, fiddle, harp, pipe, register, skirl, trumpet, tweedle | ||
| Verb group | play | ||
| Domain category | music, music | ||
| 8. | play (body) pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind | ||
| Samples | He acted the idiot. She plays deaf when the news are bad. | ||
| Synonyms | act, act as | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | act, behave, do | ||
| Verb group | act, act, behave, do, play, represent | ||
| 9. | play (motion) move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly | ||
| Samples | The spotlights played on the politicians. | ||
| Pattern of use | Something is ----ing PP | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | go, locomote, move, travel | ||
| 10. | play (competition) bet or wager (money) | ||
| Samples | He played $20 on the new horse. She plays the races. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | gamble | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | underplay | ||
| Verb group | play | ||
| 11. | play (social) engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion | ||
| Samples | On weekends I play. The students all recreate alike. | ||
| Synonyms | recreate | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
| Verb group | play | ||
| 12. | play (creation) pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity | ||
| Samples | Let's play like I am mommy. Play cowboy and Indians. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s that CLAUSE | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | assume, feign, sham, simulate | ||
| Verb group | act, play, represent | ||
| 13. | play (creation) emit recorded sound | ||
| Samples | The tape was playing for hours. The stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered. | ||
| Pattern of use | Something ----s. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | sound | ||
| Verb group | play, run | ||
| 14. | play (creation) perform on a certain location | ||
| Samples | The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16. She has been playing on Broadway for years. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | perform | ||
| Verb group | act, play, playact, roleplay | ||
| Domain category | performing arts | ||
| 15. | play (competition) put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game | ||
| Samples | He is playing his cards close to his chest. The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | deploy | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | cover, declare, pitch | ||
| Verb group | play, play | ||
| 16. | play (body) engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously | ||
| Samples | They played games on their opponents. Play the stock market. Play with her feelings. Toy with an idea. | ||
| Synonyms | toy | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | act, behave, do | ||
| 17. | play (social) behave in a certain way | ||
| Samples | Play safe. Play it safe. Play fair. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Something ----s something Adjective/Noun. Somebody ----s Adjective | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | act, move | ||
| Verb group | play | ||
| 18. | play (creation) cause to emit recorded audio or video | ||
| Samples | They ran the tapes over and over again. I'll play you my favorite record. He never tires of playing that video. | ||
| Examples | Sam and Sue play the movie | ||
| Synonyms | run | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
| Verb group | execute, play, run, run | ||
| 19. | play (contact) manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination | ||
| Samples | She played nervously with her wedding ring. Don't fiddle with the screws. He played with the idea of running for the Senate. | ||
| Synonyms | diddle, fiddle, toy | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s PP | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | manipulate | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | put out, retire | ||
| 20. | play (consumption) use to one's advantage | ||
| Samples | She plays on her clients' emotions. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s PP | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | exploit, work | ||
| 21. | play (cognition) consider not very seriously | ||
| Samples | He is trifling with her. She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania. | ||
| Examples | Sam wants to play with Sue | ||
| Synonyms | dally, trifle | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s PP | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | consider, deal, look at, take | ||
| Verb group | dally, flirt, play, toy | ||
| 22. | play (stative) be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way | ||
| Samples | This speech didn't play well with the American public. His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
| 23. | play (social) behave carelessly or indifferently | ||
| Samples | Play about with a young girl's affection. | ||
| Synonyms | dally, flirt, toy | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s PP | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | act, move | ||
| Verb group | dally, play, trifle | ||
| 24. | play (motion) cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space | ||
| Samples | The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | displace, move | ||
| 25. | play (creation) perform on a stage or theater | ||
| Samples | She acts in this play. He acted in `Julius Caesar'. I played in `A Christmas Carol'. | ||
| Synonyms | act, playact, roleplay | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | perform | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | ham, ham it up, mime, overact, overplay, pantomime, stooge, underact, underplay | ||
| Verb group | act, act, play, play, play, represent | ||
| Domain category | dramatic art, dramatics, dramaturgy, theater, theatre | ||
| 26. | play (creation) be performed or presented for public viewing | ||
| Samples | What's playing in the local movie theater?. `Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years. | ||
| Pattern of use | Something ----s. Something is ----ing PP | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | debut | ||
| Verb group | act, play, playact, roleplay | ||
| Domain category | performing arts | ||
| 27. | play (creation) cause to happen or to occur as a consequence | ||
| Samples | I cannot work a miracle. Wreak havoc. Bring comments. Play a joke. The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area. | ||
| Synonyms | bring, make for, work, wreak | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | create, make | ||
| Verb group | act, work | ||
| 28. | play (contact) discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream | ||
| Samples | Play water from a hose. The fountains played all day. | ||
| Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | discharge | ||
| 29. | play (competition) make bets | ||
| Samples | Play the races. Play the casinos in Trouville. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | bet, play, wager | ||
| Verb group | bet, play, play, wager | ||
| 30. | play (competition) stake on the outcome of an issue | ||
| Samples | I bet $100 on that new horse. She played all her money on the dark horse. | ||
| Synonyms | bet, wager | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | gamble | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | back, bet on, gage, game, play, punt, raise, see, stake | ||
| Verb group | play | ||
| 31. | play (competition) shoot or hit in a particular manner | ||
| Samples | She played a good backhand last night. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | hit | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | hook | ||
| Verb group | encounter, meet, play, take on | ||
| 32. | play (competition) use or move | ||
| Samples | I had to play my queen. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | promote | ||
| Verb group | encounter, meet, play, play, take on | ||
| 33. | play (competition) employ in a game or in a specific position | ||
| Samples | They played him on first base. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize | ||
| Verb group | encounter, meet, play, play, take on | ||
| 34. | play (competition) contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle | ||
| Samples | Princeton plays Yale this weekend. Charlie likes to play Mary. | ||
| Examples | Sam and Sue play, Sam cannot play Sue | ||
| Synonyms | encounter, meet, take on | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | confront, face, replay | ||
| Entail | compete, contend, vie | ||
| Verb group | play, play, play, play | ||
| 35. | play (body) exhaust by allowing to pull on the line | ||
| Samples | Play a hooked fish. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | beat, exhaust, tucker, tucker out, wash up | ||
Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
Web design: Orcapia v/Per Bang. English edition: .
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Web design: Orcapia v/Per Bang. English edition: .
2024 onlineordbog.dk