The meaning of Play

verb

Take action; do something.

Usage examples:

They urged washington to act

noun

A thing done; a deed.

Usage examples:

A criminal act

abbreviation

Advance corporation tax.

noun

The state or experience of finding something funny.

Usage examples:

We looked with amusement at our horoscopes

verb

Skip or dance about in a lively or playful way.

Usage examples:

Children were capering about the room

noun

A playful skipping movement.

Usage examples:

She did a little caper or dance

noun

The cooked and pickled flower bud of a prickly southern european shrub, used to flavour food.

Usage examples:

Add capers and olives

verb

Jump or dance around excitedly.

Usage examples:

The players cavorted about the pitch

verb

To dance around, having a noisy good time

Usage examples:

A group of teenagers were cavorting in the park.

noun

Professional entertainment consisting of jokes and sketches, intended to make an audience laugh.

Usage examples:

A cabaret with music, dancing, and comedy

noun

A movie, play, or book that is intentionally amusing either in its characters or its action

Usage examples:

[ c ] a lot of shakespeare’s plays are comedies., [ u ] when john forgot his lines in the middle of…

verb

Move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.

Usage examples:

Their cheeks were pressed together as they danced

noun

A series of steps and movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.

Usage examples:

Everyone was taking part in the dance

verb

Taking a series of rhythmical steps in time to music

noun

A small pointed missile that can be thrown or fired.

Usage examples:

The classroom was littered with paper darts

verb

Move or run somewhere suddenly or rapidly.

Usage examples:

She darted across the street

verb

A sudden quick movement

verb

Represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form.

Usage examples:

Paintings depicting old testament scenes

verb

To represent or show something in a picture, story, movie, etc.; portray

Usage examples:

The movie depicts his father as a tyrant., [ c ] it’s a wonderful depiction of a female friendship.

noun

A thing that prevents someone from concentrating on something else.

Usage examples:

The firm found passenger travel a distraction from the main business of moving freight

noun

The state of being very bored or annoyed

Usage examples:

His lessons bore me to distraction., that dreadful noise is driving me to distraction., i can turn …

noun

The action of turning something aside from its course.

Usage examples:

The diversion of resources from defence to civil research

noun

The act of causing something or someone to turn in a different direction, or to be used for a different purpose

Usage examples:

[ u ] a snowstorm closed the airport, and the diversion of air traffic was therefore necessary., [ …

noun

The act of using something in a different way from what was originally planned

Usage examples:

There has been a diversion of resources away from new infrastructure projects., it is difficult for…

verb

Perform (an action, the precise nature of which is often unspecified).

Usage examples:

Very little work has been done in this field

noun

Used before a verb (except be, can, may, ought, shall, will ) in questions and negative statements.

Usage examples:

Do you have any pets?

noun

Variant spelling of doh1.

noun

A play for theatre, radio, or television.

Usage examples:

A gritty urban drama about growing up in harlem

noun

A play, esp. a serious one, written to be performed by actors, the writing of plays, or the art of showing plays

Usage examples:

[ c ] she’s been in several television dramas., [ u ] arthur miller, a master of drama, wrote “deat…

verb

Make (a bill or other proposal) law.

Usage examples:

Legislation was enacted to attract international companies

noun

The state or process of taking pleasure in something.

Usage examples:

The enjoyment of a good wine

noun

The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.

Usage examples:

Everyone just sits in front of the television for entertainment

noun

Public shows, performances, or other ways of enjoying yourself

Usage examples:

[ c ] popular/family entertainments, the entertainment industry, [ u ] we’ve set a budget for house…

noun

The activity of taking customers or possible customers out to restaurants, bars, theatres, etc. as a way of encouraging them to do business with you

Usage examples:

Each manager has a fixed entertainment budget., the company is cutting back on money spent on corpo…

verb

Put (a plan, order, or course of action) into effect.

Usage examples:

The corporation executed a series of financial deals

verb

To do or perform something planned

Usage examples:

Now that we have approval, we can go ahead and execute the plan.

verb

To do or perform something in a planned way

Usage examples:

Local authority officials will check that the work is being executed according to the plans submitt…

noun

A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.

Usage examples:

He toured the backwoods in second-rate farces

noun

A humorous play in which the characters become involved in unlikely situations, or the humor in this type of play

Usage examples:

The meeting turned out to be a farce since no one had prepared anything.

verb

Move swiftly and lightly.

Usage examples:

Small birds flitted about in the branches

noun

An act of moving house or leaving one's home, typically secretly so as to escape creditors or obligations.

Usage examples:

Moonlight flits from one insalubrious dwelling to another

verb

Move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

verb

(of a police officer or other official) pass the hands over (someone) in a search for hidden weapons, drugs, or other items.

Usage examples:

He raised his arms to permit the officer to frisk him

noun

An act of frisking someone.

Usage examples:

A frisk search

verb

To use your hands to search someone’s clothes and body for hidden objects or weapons

Usage examples:

I was frisked when we went through security at the airport., the dog ran ahead, frisking in the bru…

verb

Play or move about in a cheerful and lively way.

Usage examples:

Edward frolicked on the sand

noun

A playful and lively movement or activity.

Usage examples:

His injuries were inflicted by the frolics of a young filly

adjective

Cheerful, merry, or playful.

Usage examples:

A thousand forms of frolic life

noun

Enjoyment, amusement, or light-hearted pleasure.

Usage examples:

The children were having fun in the play area

adjective

Amusing, entertaining, or enjoyable.

Usage examples:

It was a fun evening

verb

Joke or tease.

Usage examples:

No need to get sore—i was only funning

verb

Run or jump about playfully.

Usage examples:

The mare gambolled towards her

noun

An act of running or jumping about playfully.

Usage examples:

The two of them run off to the woods for a gambol together

verb

To run and jump in a happy way

Usage examples:

Lambs were gambolling (about/around) in the spring sunshine.

noun

An activity that one engages in for amusement or fun.

Usage examples:

The kids were playing a game with their balloons

verb

Manipulate (a situation), typically in a way that is unfair or unscrupulous.

Usage examples:

It was very easy for a few big companies to game the system

verb

Freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone).

Usage examples:

She gave him presents and clothes

noun

Capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure.

Usage examples:

Plastic pots that have enough give to accommodate the vigorous roots

Transfer possession of something concrete or abstract

noun

Rough, boisterous play.

Usage examples:

This ridiculous horseplay has gone far enough

noun

Noisy, physically active behavior, esp. when people push each other as a joke

Usage examples:

No running or horseplay in the halls.

verb

Pretend to be (another person) for entertainment or fraud.

Usage examples:

It's a very serious offence to impersonate a police officer

verb

To intentionally copy another person’s speech, appearance, or behavior

Usage examples:

To impersonate a movie star, he was charged with impersonating a police officer.

verb

Explain the meaning of (information or actions).

Usage examples:

The evidence is difficult to interpret

verb

Make sense of; assign a meaning to

verb

To describe the meaning of something; examine in order to explain

Usage examples:

It’s difficult to interpret these statistics without knowing how they were obtained., [ i ] i had t…

noun

Lively celebration with others; merrymaking.

Usage examples:

Eight months of commemorative jollification for the eiffel tower began in march

noun

An enjoyable activity or celebration

noun

A small ground-dwelling songbird with elongated hind claws and a song that is delivered on the wing, typically crested and with brown streaky plumage.

Usage examples:

In addition to communicating through song, larks will raise the crest of feathers in their head dur…

verb

Enjoy oneself by behaving in a playful and mischievous way.

Usage examples:

He's always joking and larking about in the office

noun

A small, brown bird with a pleasant song

Usage examples:

He started hang-gliding years ago as a lark.

noun

The angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator, or of the equator of a celestial object, usually expressed in degrees and minutes.

Usage examples:

At a latitude of 51° n

noun

The distance north or south of the equator measured from 0° to 90°

Usage examples:

Judges now have considerable latitude in sentencing.

noun

The position north or south of the equator measured in degrees

Usage examples:

A gps watch that displays longitude and latitude, he says people living in the us above 35 degrees …

noun

Time when one is not working or occupied; free time.

Usage examples:

People with too much enforced leisure

noun

The time when you are free from work or other duties and can relax

Usage examples:

She has a limited amount of leisure time., a leisurely stroll on the beach

noun

Activities people do when they are not working, to relax and enjoy themselves

Usage examples:

Shares in the leisure sector have not performed so well this year., hotels, airlines and other firm…

verb

Pass the tongue over (something) in order to taste, moisten, or clean it.

Usage examples:

He licked the stamp and stuck it on the envelope

noun

An act of licking something with the tongue.

Usage examples:

Sammy gave his fingers a lick

verb

Pass the tongue over

noun

The edge or border of something.

Usage examples:

The eastern margin of the indian ocean

verb

Provide with an edge or border.

Usage examples:

The plant's leaves are margined with yellow

noun

The border of empty space around the written or printed text on a page

Usage examples:

She was in the habit of making notes in the margins of her textbooks., he was reelected by a wide m…

noun

A dirty or untidy state of things or of a place.

Usage examples:

She made a mess of the kitchen

verb

Make untidy or dirty.

Usage examples:

She scratched her head, messing her hair still further

phrasal verb

To treat someone badly

Usage examples:

I'm tired of being messed around by my bank., don't mess me about!

noun

An act of moving.

Usage examples:

A slight movement of the body

noun

The act or process of changing a situation or event, or of changing the way something happens or is done

Usage examples:

[ c ] there has been a movement toward smaller families., the women’s movement works for better job…

noun

A change in a number, price, etc. for example on a financial market

Usage examples:

Movements in sth short-term movements in currency are difficult to predict., this stock market repo…

verb

Carry out, accomplish, or fulfil (an action, task, or function).

Usage examples:

I have my duties to perform

verb

Get done

verb

To do an action or piece of work

Usage examples:

[ t ] the operation was performed with the patient under general anesthesia., [ i ] the car perform…

noun

An act of presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment.

Usage examples:

Don giovanni had its first performance in 1787

noun

The act of doing something, such as your job

Usage examples:

If the accident happened during the performance of his regular duties, he’s covered by disability i…

noun

How successful an investment, company, etc. is and how much profit it makes

Usage examples:

The fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future., good/…

verb

Play the part of (a character in a drama).

Usage examples:

Here was our village cobbler in a french uniform, personating the general

noun

The quality of being light-hearted or full of fun.

Usage examples:

Images of childlike innocence and playfulness

noun

The quality of being funny and not serious

Usage examples:

She plays the part with a childlike playfulness., the book combines complex plots with linguistic p…

noun

A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.

Usage examples:

She smiled with pleasure at being praised

adjective

Used or intended for entertainment rather than business.

Usage examples:

Pleasure boats

verb

Give sexual enjoyment or satisfaction to.

Usage examples:

Tell me what will pleasure you

verb

Depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature.

Usage examples:

The ineffectual oxbridge dons portrayed by evelyn waugh

noun

The action of making or manufacturing from components or raw materials, or the process of being so manufactured.

Usage examples:

Banning the production of chemical weapons

noun

Activity done for enjoyment when one is not working.

Usage examples:

She rides for recreation

noun

The action or process of creating something again.

Usage examples:

The periodic destruction and recreation of the universe

verb

Make or become less tense or anxious.

Usage examples:

He relaxed and smiled confidently

verb

Make less taut

verb

To become or cause someone to become calm and comfortable, and not worried or nervous, or to become or cause a muscle or the body to become less tight

Usage examples:

[ i ] she saw a need for a downtown club where women could relax., [ t ] this exercise will help yo…

noun

The state of being free from tension and anxiety.

Usage examples:

I guided my patient into a state of hypnotic relaxation

verb

Provide or give (a service, help, etc.).

Usage examples:

Money serves as a reward for services rendered

noun

A first coat of plaster applied to a brick or stone surface.

Usage examples:

Set stainless steel beads in position and apply scratch coat render at a thickness of 6/8mm.

verb

Give or supply

verb

Be entitled or appointed to act or speak for (someone), especially in an official capacity.

Usage examples:

For purposes of litigation, an infant can and must be represented by an adult

verb

Be a delegate or spokesperson for

verb

Cease work or movement in order to relax, sleep, or recover strength.

Usage examples:

He needed to rest after the feverish activity

noun

An instance or period of resting.

Usage examples:

You look as though you need a rest

verb

Remain or be left in a specified condition.

Usage examples:

You can rest assured she will do everything she can

noun

A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it.

Usage examples:

He dived into the pool leaving barely a ripple

verb

(of water) form or flow with a series of small waves on the surface.

Usage examples:

The mediterranean rippled and sparkled

noun

A small wave or a slight movement of a surface, esp. the surface of water

Usage examples:

The stone hit the water and caused a ring of ripples to spread out., a ripple of laughter ran throu…

verb

(especially of a child or animal) play roughly and energetically.

Usage examples:

The noisy pack of children romped around the gardens

noun

A spell of rough, energetic play.

Usage examples:

A romp in the snow

noun

The extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant.

Usage examples:

We widened the scope of our investigation

verb

Assess or investigate something.

Usage examples:

They'd scoped out their market

combining form

Denoting an instrument for observing, viewing, or examining.

Usage examples:

Microscope

noun

The script of a film, including acting instructions and scene directions.

Usage examples:

It was through laurent that i started writing screenplays for short films.

noun

A story written with the words to be spoken by actors on television or in a movie

verb

Allow or cause (something) to be visible.

Usage examples:

A white blouse will show the blood

noun

A spectacle or display, typically an impressive one.

Usage examples:

Spectacular shows of bluebells

verb

Make visible or noticeable

noun

A rough or unfinished drawing or painting, often made to assist in making a more finished picture.

Usage examples:

A charcoal sketch

verb

Make a rough drawing of.

Usage examples:

As they talked, modigliani began to sketch her

noun

A simple, quickly made drawing

Usage examples:

A pen and ink sketch, she helped write a sketch for a comedy show., a biographical sketch, [ i ] i …

verb

Pass time by playing tricks or practical jokes; indulge in horseplay.

Usage examples:

He was skylarking with a friend when he fell into a pile of boxes

noun

A common eurasian and north african lark of farmland and open country, noted for its prolonged song given in hovering flight.

Usage examples:

A typical farming village in this region attracts tree sparrows, black redstarts, gray partridge, s…

adjective

Not taut or held tightly in position; loose.

Usage examples:

A slack rope

noun

The part of a rope or line which is not held taut; the loose or unused part.

Usage examples:

I picked up the rod and wound in the slack

verb

Loosen (something, especially a rope).

Usage examples:

Slacking the outhaul allows you to adjust the sail

noun

A continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied.

Usage examples:

A table took up much of the space

verb

Position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.

Usage examples:

The poles are spaced 3m apart

noun

An empty place

Usage examples:

[ c ] a parking/storage space, [ u ] he was staring into space, seeing nothing., [ c ] out west the…

noun

A visually striking performance or display.

Usage examples:

The acrobatic feats make a good spectacle

noun

An unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention

Usage examples:

An amazing/terrible spectacle, the trial became a public spectacle., she made a spectacle of hersel…

noun

A play written or adapted for television.

Usage examples:

The stories finally were published in book form - without first being written as teleplays, which h…

noun

A play that has been written to be shown on television

Usage examples:

Twelve angry men began life in 1954 as a 60-minute teleplay, written by reginald rose., he's one of…

verb

Come into or be in contact with.

Usage examples:

He leaned back so that only two legs of his chair touched the floor

noun

An act of touching someone or something.

Usage examples:

Her touch on his shoulder was hesitant

verb

Make physical contact with, come in contact with

noun

An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.

Usage examples:

A tragedy that killed 95 people

noun

A very sad event or situation, esp. one involving death or suffering

Usage examples:

[ u ] his reckless driving was bound to end in tragedy., [ c ] it’s a tragedy (that) so many childr…