from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Play \Play\, n.
1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.
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2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement
or diversion; a game.
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John naturally loved rough play. --Arbuthnot.
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3. 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.
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4. Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair
play; sword play; a play of wit. "The next who comes in
play." --Dryden.
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5. A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition
in which characters are represented by dialogue and
action.
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A play ought to be a just image of human nature.
--Dryden.
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6. The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy;
as, he attends ever play.
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7. Performance on an instrument of music.
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8. Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a
wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and
easy action. "To give them play, front and rear."
--Milton.
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The joints are let exactly into one another, that
they have no play between them. --Moxon.
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9. Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display;
scope; as, to give full play to mirth.
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{Play actor}, an actor of dramas. --Prynne.
{Play debt}, a gambling debt. --Arbuthnot.
{Play pleasure}, idle amusement. [Obs.] --Bacon.
{A play upon words}, the use of a word in such a way as to be
capable of double meaning; punning.
{Play of colors}, prismatic variation of colors.
{To bring into play}, {To come into play}, to bring or come
into use or exercise.
{To hold in play}, to keep occupied or employed.
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I, with two more to help me,
Will hold the foe in play. --Macaulay.
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