fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness: I said it merely in play.
a pun.
the playing, action, or conduct of a game: The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play.
the manner or style of playing or of doing something: We admired his fine play throughout the game.
an act or instance of playing or of doing something: a stupid play that cost us the match.
one's turn to play: Whose play is it?
a playing for stakes; gambling.
an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver: They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play.
an enterprise or venture; deal: an oil and drilling play.
action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind: fair play; foul play.
action, activity, or operation: the play of fancy.
brisk, light, or changing movement or action: a fountain with a leaping play of water.
elusive change or movement, as of light or colors: the play of a searchlight against the night sky.
a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move.
freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism.
freedom for action, or scope for activity: full play of the mind.
attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news: The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers.
an act or instance of being broadcast: The governor's speech got two plays on our local station.
v. 有主动词 verb
to act the part of in a dramatic performance; portray: to play Lady Macbeth.
to perform on or as if on the stage.
to act or sustain in a dramatic performance or in real life: to play the role of benefactor.
(23)
to act the part or character of in real life: to play the fool; to play God.
to give performances in, as a theatrical company does: to play the larger cities.
to engage in.
to contend against in a game.
to function or perform as in a game or competition: He usually plays left end.
to employ in a game: I played my highest card.
to use as if in playing a game, as for one's own advantage: He played his brothers against each other.
to stake or wager, as in a game.
to lay a wager or wagers on.
to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest: to play cowboys and Indians.
to perform on.
to perform on an instrument.
to cause to produce sound or pictures: to play a tape; to play the radio.
to do or perform: You shouldn't play tricks. Compromise plays an important part in marriage.
to carry or put into operation; act upon: to play a hunch.
to cause to move or change lightly or quickly: to play colored lights on a fountain.
to operate or cause to operate, especially continuously or with repeated action: to play a hose on a fire.
to allow to exhaust itself by pulling on the line.
to display or feature, especially prominently: Play the flood photos on page one.
to exploit or trade in.
v. 无主动词 verb
to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation.
to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously.
to amuse oneself; toy; trifle.
(18)
to take part or engage in a game.
to take part in a game for stakes; gamble.
to conduct oneself or act in a specified way: to play fair.
to act on or as if on the stage; perform.
to perform on a musical instrument.
to sound in performance: The strings are playing well this evening.
to give forth sound: The radio played all night.
to be performed or shown: What's playing at the movie theater around the corner?
to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script: We hope this scene will play well.
Informal. to be accepted or effective; fare: How will the senator's proposal play with the public?
to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism.
to move about lightly or quickly: The water of the fountain played in the air.
to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance: The lights played strangely over the faces of the actors.
to operate continuously or with repeated action.
Informal. to comply or cooperate: They wanted her to tell them what she knew about the plans, but she refused to play.
v. 动词组 verb
play along, to cooperate or concur; go along.to pretend to cooperate or concur.
play around,Informal. to behave in a playful or frivolous manner; fool around.to be sexually promiscuous.to be sexually unfaithful.
play at, to pretend interest in: It's obvious that you're just playing at fishing for my sake.to do something without seriousness: He is merely playing at being a student.
(9)
play back, to play: Play it back and let's hear how I sound.
play down, to treat as of little importance; belittle: He has consistently played down his own part in the successful enterprise.
play off,Sports.to play an extra game or round in order to settle a tie.Sports.to engage in an elimination game or games after the regular season is over in order to determine the champion.to set against another, usually for one's own gain or advantage: The children could usually get what they wanted by playing one parent off against the other.
play on / upon to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of: She would never think of playing on the good nature of others.
play out, to bring to an end; finish.to use up; exhaust: to play out one's supplies.to reel or pay out, as a rope, line, etc.
play up, to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize: The schools are playing up their science programs.
You can say this verbatim because it doesn’t put his chef-feelings in play.
Also working in the Capitals’ favor has been an unexpected week off — the result of three games postponed because of coronavirus issues — after less than a month of play.
There is at least some indication that Williams might also be struggling with her very next stroke following a return hit in play.
So far during Big Ten play, 17 men’s basketball games have been postponed.
He believed his front seven could stop running plays even with the safeties backed up.
Have there been discussions with FX regarding an Archer movie, and how do you think that would play out?
Father Joel Román Salazar died in a car crash in 2013; his death was ruled an accident, but the suspicion of foul play persists.
He plays an aging punk rocker and I play the drummer from his old band.
When fathers hold and play with their children, oxytocin and prolactin kick in, priming them for bonding.
Ironically, the play deals with the ‘management’ of information by the Establishment.
I assure you, no matter how beautifully we play any piece, the minute Liszt plays it, you would scarcely recognize it!
But I hope at least to play to him a few times, and what is more important, to hear him play repeatedly.
To fill up the time till Liszt came, our hostess made us play, one after the other, beginning with the latest arrival.
Again the sallow fingers began to play with the book-covers, passing from one to another, but always slowly and gently.
Her attachment to impressionism leads this artist to many experiments in color—or, as one critic wrote, "to play with color."