play

play n

OE.

1. Recreation; amusement; frolic; diversion.
2. Game; sport.
3. Rest; leisure; idleness; holiday; repose from labor.
4. Joke; jest; prank; fun; mischief; roguery; impishness; merriment derived from toying with another.
5. Drama; show; theatrical performance.
6. Behavior; conduct; set of actions; situation.
7. Movement; dance; choreography; flickering; twinkling; flitting; variable motion; [fig.] rays; beams of light.
8. Phrase. “At play”: engaged in sport; enjoying leisure; involved in merriment.

play [-ed, -eth, -ing -s] v

OE pleˋan.

1. Romp; frolic; gambol; cavort.
2. Engage in a game of.
3. Rest; relax; enjoy leisure; take a break from labor.
4. Pretend; imagine; dream; make believe.
5. Dance; sway; move rhythmically.
6. Flicker; flash.
7. Perform on a musical instrument.
8. Repeat; sound; be heard.
9. [Fig.] exist; be located.
10. Phrase. “Play at”: imagine; pretend; engage in a game of; participate in a fanciful activity of.
11. Phrase. “Play with”: rustle; agitate; stir up.