play

play: \ \ [OE] The origins of play are obscure. It had a relative in Middle Dutch pleien ‘dance about, jump for joy’, but this has now died out, leaving it in splendid but puzzling isolation, its ancestry unaccounted for. Its underlying meaning appears to be ‘make rapid movements for purposes of recreation’, but already in Old English times it was being used for ‘perform on a musical instrument’. The earliest record of the use of the noun for a ‘dramatic work’ is from the 14th century.

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Synonyms:

Sport, disport, frolic, skip, frisk, gambol, revel, romp, caper, make merry, make fun, Put in action, put in operation, Game / Do, perform, execute, Liberty of action, scope, swing, elbow-room, opportunity / Trifle, toy, wanton, dally, Perform, Amusement, sport, frolic, gambols, jest, pastime / Hover, flutter, sport, wave, Put down, exhibit, use in playing, move, Gaming, gambling / Game, gambler, Compete, engage in play, Practice, use, manner of dealing / Act (on the stage), take a part, personate a character, Perform on, play on or upon, Action, use, employment / Perform, Execute, Dramatic composition, drama, comedy, tragedy, melodrama or farce / Act, operate, work freely, Act (on the stage), enact, represent, exhibit, perform, Dramatic performance / Do, act, behave, Personate, act the part of, take the part of, Performance / Engage in, take part in, Motion, movement, action

Look at other dictionaries:

play — [plā] vi. [ME plein < OE plegan, to play, be active] 1. to move lightly, rapidly, or erratically; flutter [sunlight playing on the waves] 2. to amuse oneself, as by taking part in a game or sport; engage in recreation 3. to take active part in … English World dictionary
Play — may refer to: * Play (activity), enjoyment by humans * Play (animal behaviour)‎ * Play (theatre), structured literary form or theatreIn music* Play 99.6 (radio), Jordan s No.1 Hit Music Radio Station * Play (Mexican band) (or Grupo Play ),… … Wikipedia
play — ► VERB 1) engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose. 2) take part in (a sport or contest). 3) compete against. 4) take a specified position in a sports team. 5) represent (a character) in a… … English terms dictionary
Play — Play, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. [1913 Webster] 2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. [1913 Webster] John naturally loved rough play. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 3. The act or practice of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Play — Play, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Played}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Playing}.] [OE. pleien, AS. plegian, plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Play — Play, v. t. 1. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump. [1913 Webster] First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul. Herbert. [1913 Webster] 2. To perform music upon; as, to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
play³ — Beschreibung Multiplattform Spielemagazin Verlag … Deutsch Wikipedia
PLAY.FM — is an web radio and online audio database for DJ and club culture. DJ sets, radio shows and live recordings are collected and can be listend to on demand. The PLAY.FM studio and the office are located in the Museumsquartier in the 7th district of … Wikipedia
Play 3 — Play³ Beschreibung Multiplattform Spielemagazin Verlag Computec Media AG … Deutsch Wikipedia
Play³ — Beschreibung Multiplattform Spielemagazin Verlag Computec Media AG … Deutsch Wikipedia
Play On — Студийный альбом Кэрри Андервуд Д … Википедия

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play

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