·noun Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.
II. Play ·noun Performance on an instrument of music.
III. Play ·noun To act on the stage; to personate a character.
IV. Play ·vt To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
V. Play ·vt To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.
VI. Play ·noun To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.
VII. Play ·noun Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.
VIII. Play ·noun To move gayly; to Wanton; to Disport.
IX. Play ·noun The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.
X. Play ·noun To Act; to Behave; to practice deception.
XI. Play ·noun Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit.
XII. Play ·noun To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to Trifle; to be careless.
XIII. Play ·vt To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.
XIV. Play ·vt To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.
XV. Play ·noun Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth.
XVI. Play ·noun To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.
XVII. Play ·noun A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.
XVIII. Play ·vt To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to Execute; as, to play tricks.
XIX. Play ·vt 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.
XX. Play ·noun Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action.
XXI. Play ·noun 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.
XXII. Play ·noun To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to Frolic; to Spot.
XXIII. Play ·noun To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to Operate; to Act; as, the fountain plays.
XXIV. Play ·vt To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to Simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman.