Laxi Dictionary

English Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition play in British English

play verb

verb
/pleɪ/
1

to take part in a sport or game

Example

The children were playing football in the park.

Example

Shall we play cards or chess?

Example

He played well, though his team lost.

Example

He played for AC Milan before he transferred to Arsenal.

Synonyms and related words
play race meet play play at romp
1.1

to compete against someone in a sport or game

Example

She plays the winner of tomorrow's match.

Example

Bayern Munich will play Real Madrid tomorrow evening.

Example

England will be playing against Brazil in the next round.

Synonyms and related words
play race meet
1.2

to use a particular person in your team

Example

The coach has to decide today whether or not to play him.

Synonyms and related words
bench be relegated call up
1.3

to have a particular position in a sports team

Example

She plays in defence.

Synonyms and related words
play race meet
1.4

to hit or kick a ball

Example

The ball was going out so he was right not to play it.

Synonyms and related words
strike at kick play
2

to perform music, or to use an instrument to make music

Example

He played several organ pieces by Bach.

Example

Gloria plays the violin in the London Philharmonic.

Example

The orchestra played beautifully tonight.

Synonyms and related words
accompany arrange articulation
2.1

to make something such as a radio, CD etc start to produce sounds, or to be made to do this

Example

They played the CD at full volume.

Example

A tape was played in court in which he confessed to the crime.

Example

I could hear a radio playing in the flat above.

Synonyms and related words
activate actuate coax operate come on function
3

to have a particular part in a play or film

Example

She played Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Example

The role of the mother was played by one of Australia's finest actresses.

Synonyms and related words
act ad-lib co-star
3.1

to act in a particular play

Example

I was asked to play in a new version of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Synonyms and related words
act ad-lib co-star
3.2

if a play or film is playing somewhere, it is being performed or shown there

Example

What's playing at the local cinema?

Synonyms and related words
amuse appear compère
4

if children play or play something, they do things that they enjoy, for example using toys and taking part in games

Example

The children were out playing in the garden.

Example

Molly and Lilly were playing happily together.

Example

Tom's very good at playing by himself.

Example

She watched some children playing with a ball in the street.

Synonyms and related words
act up grow into grow out of
4.1

to pretend to be someone else while playing

Example

Let's play doctors and nurses.

Synonyms and related words
pose as mimic ape
5

if something such as light plays somewhere, it moves quickly over a surface, appearing in different places for a very short time

Example

Moonlight played on the surface of the lake.

Synonyms and related words
reflect flood fade
Example

She thought she was making a good investment that would set her up for the rest of her life, but they were playing her like an idiot.

Definition play in British English

Related Words

Words related to play:

a play on words (phrase) the goat (phrase) against the run of play (phrase) all work and no play (phrase) be a gooseberry (phrase) be billed to sing/play etc (phrase) someone at their own game (phrase) blinder (noun) bring something into play (phrase) child’s play (noun) come into play (phrase) fair play (noun) fair play to someone (phrase) foul play (noun) have a part to play (in something) (phrase) a part (in something) (phrase) your cards close to your chest (phrase) (if you) play your cards right (phrase) in play (phrase) make a play for someone (phrase) make a play for something (phrase) mystery play (noun) nativity play (noun) out of play (phrase) Passion play (noun) play (verb) play (noun) play (it) safe (phrase) play (merry) hell with (phrase) play () into someone’s hands (phrase) play (something) by ear (phrase) play a on someone (phrase) play a in something (phrase) play about (phrasal verb) play along (phrasal verb) play around (phrasal verb) play at (phrasal verb) play away (phrasal verb) play back (phrasal verb) play ball (phrase) play ball (with someone) (phrase) play both ends against the middle (phrase) play Cupid (phrase) play date (noun) play dirty (phrase) play down (phrasal verb) play fair (phrase) play fast and loose with (phrase) play for time (phrase) play games (phrase) play God (phrase) play good cop/bad cop (phrase) play hard to get (phrase) play hardball (phrase) play it by ear (phrase) play it cool (phrase) play off (phrasal verb) play off against (phrasal verb) play on (phrasal verb) play out (phrasal verb) play politics (phrase) play possum (phrase) play Russian roulette with something (phrase) play second fiddle to someone (phrase) play silly buggers (phrase) play something by ear (phrase) play the (stock) market (phrase) play the field (phrase) play the innocent (phrase) play the system (phrase) play the...card (phrase) play to the gallery (phrase) play truant (phrase) play up (phrasal verb) play up to (phrasal verb) play with (phrasal verb) play-acting (noun) play-off (noun) play/act dumb (phrase) the fool (phrase) etc your heart out (phrase) plug-and-play (adjective) power play (noun) role-play (noun) soft play centre (noun) state of play (noun) the Scottish play () the cat’s away (the mice will play) (phrase)