Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: THEATRE

Language: Old English
Origin: plegan

play

1 verb
     
play
play1 S1 W1
1

children

[intransitive and transitive]DGO when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often with other people or with toys:
Kids were playing and chasing each other.
play catch/house/tag/school etc
Outside, the children were playing cowboys and Indians.
play with
Did you like to play with dolls when you were little?
Parents need to spend time just playing with their children.
2

sports/games

a) [intransitive and transitive] to take part or compete in a game or sport:
Karen began playing basketball when she was six.
If you feel any pain, you shouldn't play.
Men were sitting in the park, playing cards.
play against
Bristol will play against Coventry next week.
She's playing Helen Evans in the semi-final. (=playing against her)
play for
Moxon played for England in ten test matches.
b) [transitive] to use a particular piece, card, person etc in a game or sport:
Harrison played a ten of spades.
The Regents played Eddie at center (=used him as a player in that position) in the game against Arizona.
c) [intransitive and transitive] to take a particular position on a team:
Garvey played first base for the Dodgers.
d) [transitive] to hit a ball in a particular way or to a particular place in a game or sport:
She played the ball low, just over the net.
play
3

music

[intransitive and transitive]
to perform a piece of music on a musical instrument:
He's learning to play the piano.
She played a Bach prelude.
Haden has played with many jazz greats.
A small orchestra was playing.
4

radio/cd etc

[intransitive and transitive] if a radio, CD etc plays, or if you play it, it produces sound, especially music:
The bedside radio played softly.
play a record/CD/tape etc
DJs playing the latest house and techno tracks
5

theatre/film

a) [transitive]APT to perform the actions and say the words of a particular character in a theatre performance, film etc:
Streep plays a shy, nervous woman.
play a role/part/character etc
Playing a character so different from herself was a challenge.
b) [intransitive]APT if a play or film is playing at a particular theatre, it is being performed or shown there:
'Macbeth' is playing at the Theatre Royal in York.
c) [transitive]APT if actors play a theatre, they perform there in a play
6

play a part/role

to have an effect or influence on something
play a part/role in
A good diet and fitness play a large part in helping people live longer.
7

play ball

a) to throw, kick, hit, or catch a ball as a game or activity:
Jim and Karl were playing ball in the backyard.
b) to do what someone wants you to do:
So far, the company has refused to play ball, preferring to remain independent.
8

pretend

[linking verb] to behave as if you are a particular kind of person or have a particular feeling or quality, even though it is not true:
the accusation that scientists are playing God
Some snakes fool predators by playing dead.
'What do you mean?' 'Don't play dumb.' (=pretend you do not know something)
play the idiot/the teacher etc
Susan felt she had to play the good wife.
He played the fool (=behaved in a silly way) at school instead of working.
9

behave

[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to behave in a particular way in a situation, in order to achieve the result or effect that you want:
How do you want to play this meeting?
Play it safe (=avoid risks) and make sure the eggs are thoroughly cooked.
play it carefully/cool etc
If you like him, play it cool, or you might scare him off.
10

play games

to hide your real feelings or wishes in order to achieve something in a clever or secret way - used to show disapproval:
Stop playing games, Luke, and tell me what you want.
11

play something by ear

a) to decide what to do according to the way a situation develops, without making plans before that time:
We'll see what the weather's like and play it by ear.
b) if someone can play a musical instrument by ear, they can play a tune without looking at written music
12

play a joke/trick/prank on somebody

to do something to someone as a joke or trick
13

play the game

a) to do things in the way you are expected to do them or in a way that is usual in a particular situation:
If you want a promotion, you've got to play the game.
b) British English to behave in a fair and honest way
14

play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card

to use a particular subject in politics in order to gain an advantage:
a leader who is skillfully playing the nationalist card to keep power
15

play your cards right

to say or do things in a situation in such a way that you gain as much as possible from it:
Who knows? If you play your cards right, maybe he'll marry you.
16

play your cards close to your chest

to keep secret what you are doing in a situation
17

play into somebody's hands

to do what someone you are competing with wants you to do, without realizing it:
If we respond with violence, we'll be playing into their hands, giving them an excuse for a fight.
18

play for time

to try to delay something so that you have more time to prepare for it or prevent it from happening:
The rebels may be playing for time while they try to get more weapons.
19

play tricks (on you)

if your mind, memory, sight etc plays tricks on you, you feel confused and not sure about what is happening:
It happened a long time ago, and my memory might be playing tricks on me.
20

play the market

BFS to risk money on the stock market as a way of trying to earn more money
21

play the system

to use the rules of a system in a clever way, to gain advantage for yourself:
Accountants know how to play the tax system.
22

play second fiddle (to somebody)

to be in a lower position or rank than someone else
23

play hard to get

to pretend that you are not sexually interested in someone so that they will become more interested in you
24

smile

[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a smile plays about someone's lips, they smile slightly
25

play hooky

American English play truant British EnglishSE to stay away from school without permission
26

play with fire

to do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result:
Dating the boss's daughter is playing with fire.
27

light

[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if light plays on something, it shines on it and moves on it:
the sunlight playing on the water
28

water

[intransitive] written if a fountain plays, water comes from it
29

play the field

to have sexual relationships with a lot of different people
30

play fast and loose with something

to not be careful about what you do, especially by not obeying the law or a rule:
They played fast and loose with investors' money.
31

play a hose/light on something

to point a hose or light towards something so that water or light goes onto it

play around

phrasal verb
1 to have a sexual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner
play around with
Wasn't she playing around with another man?
It was years before I realized he'd been playing around.
2 to try doing something in different ways, to see what would be best, especially when this is fun
play around with
Play around with the ingredients if you like.
3 to behave in a silly way or waste time, when you should be doing something more serious [= fool around]:
When the teacher wasn't looking, we used to play about a lot.

play around with something

phrasal verb
to keep moving or making changes to something in your hands [= fiddle with]:
Will you stop playing around with the remote control!

play along

phrasal verb
1 to pretend to agree to do what someone wants, in order to avoid annoying them or to get an advantage:
She felt she had to play along or risk losing her job.
2

play somebody along

British English to tell someone something that is not true because you need their help in some way

play at something

phrasal verb
1

What is somebody playing at?

British English spoken used when you do not understand what someone is doing or why they are doing it, and you are surprised or annoyed:
What do you think you're playing at?
2 if you play at doing something, you do not do it properly or seriously
play at doing something
He's still playing at being an artist.
3 British English if children play at doctors, soldiers etc, they pretend to be doctors, soldiers etc
play at being something
a fourteen-year-old playing at being a grown woman

play something ↔ back

phrasal verb
TCR to play something that has been recorded on a machine so that you can listen to it or watch it:
He played back his answering machine messages.

play something ↔ down

phrasal verb
to try to make something seem less important or less likely than it really is:
Management has been playing down the possibility of job losses.
play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something
The White House spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the event.

play off

phrasal verb
1 British English if people or teams play off, they play the last game in a sports competition, in order to decide who is the winner:
The top two teams will play off at Twickenham for the county title.
2

play off somebody/something

American English to deliberately use a fact, action, idea etc in order to make what you are doing better or to get an advantage:
The two musicians played off each other in a piece of inspired improvisation.

play somebody off against somebody

phrasal verb
to encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, in order to get some advantage for yourself:
The house seller may try to play one buyer off against another, to raise the price.

play on/upon something

phrasal verb
to use a feeling, fact, or idea in order to get what you want, often in an unfair way:
The ad plays on our emotions, showing a doctor holding a newborn baby.

play something ↔ out

phrasal verb
1 if an event or situation is played out or plays itself out, it happens:
It will be interesting to see how the election plays itself out.
2 if people play out their dreams, feelings etc, they express them by pretending that a particular situation is really happening:
The weekend gives you a chance to play out your fantasies.

play up

phrasal verb
1

play something ↔ up

to emphasize something, sometimes making it seem more important than it really is:
Play up your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph.
2

play (somebody) up

British English informal if children play up, they behave badly:
Jordan's been playing up in school.
I hope the kids don't play you up.
3

play (somebody) up

British English informal to hurt you or cause problems for you:
My knee's been playing me up this week.
The car's playing up again.

play up to somebody

phrasal verb
to behave in a very polite or kind way to someone because you want something from them:
Connie always plays up to her parents when she wants money.

play with somebody/something

phrasal verb
1 to keep touching something or moving it:
Stop playing with the light switch!
2 to try doing something in different ways to decide what works best:
Play with the design onscreen, moving text and pictures until you get a pleasing arrangement.
3 to consider an idea or possibility, but not always very seriously [= toy with]:
After university, I played with the idea of teaching English in China.
4

money/time/space etc to play with

money, time etc that is available to be used:
The budget is very tight, so there isn't much money to play with.
5

play with yourself

to touch your own sex organs for pleasure [= masturbate]
6

play with words/language

to use words in a clever or amusing way
Definition of play from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic THEATRE
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The THEATRE
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