play meaning
EN
[pleɪ] [-eɪ] 
US WPlay
- Play may refer to:
- Play (activity), enjoyed by animals, including humans
- Play (theatre), structured literary form of theatre
- NounPLplays
- (uncountable, formerly countable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
- (uncountable) Similar activity, in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
- (uncountable, ethology) "Repeated, incompletely functional behavior differing from more serious versions ..., and initiated voluntarily when ... in a low-stress setting.".
- The conduct, or course of a game.
- (countable) An individual's performance in a sport or game.
- (countable) (turn-based games) An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.
- (countable) A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
- (countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.
- We saw a two-act play in the theatre.
- (countable) A major move by a business.
- (countable) A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
- (uncountable) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely.
- No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it.
- Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous.
- (uncountable, informal) Sexual role-playing.
- (countable) A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
- (uncountable, formerly countable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
- VerbSGplaysPRplayingPT, PPplayed
- (intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
- They played long and hard.
- (ergative) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
- He plays on three teams. Who's playing now? play football ; play sports; play games
- England will not be catapulted among the favourites for Euro 2012 as a result of this win, but no victory against Spain is earned easily and it is right they take great heart from their efforts as they now prepare to play Sweden at Wembley on Tuesday.
- (intransitive) To take part in amorous activity; to make love, fornicate; to have sex.
- (transitive) To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance.
- He plays the King, and she's the Queen. No part of the brain plays the role of permanent memory.
- (heading, transitive, intransitive) To produce music or theatre.
- If your guitar plays well on fretted strings but annoys you on the open ones, the nut's probably worn out.
- I've practiced the piano off and on, and I still can't play very well.
- I'll play the piano and you sing. Can you play an instrument? We especially like to play jazz together. Play a song for me. Do you know how to play Für Elise? My son thinks he can play music.
- You can play the DVD now.
- His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow.
- I got a hold of Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong's agent and I explained to him on the phone that, "I know you're playing London on Wednesday night. Why don't you come and play the Arena in Windsor on Saturday night?"
- to play a comedy
- (heading) To behave in a particular way.
- Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt.
- Men are apt to play with their healths.
- His mother played false with a smith.
- to play tricks
- (intransitive) To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate.
- The fountain plays.
- (intransitive) To move gaily; to disport.
- (transitive) To put in action or motion.
- to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump in a card game
- (transitive) To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
- (transitive) To manipulate or deceive someone.
- You played me!
- (intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
- More Examples
- Used in the Middle of Sentence
- Newcastle and Blackburn played out a goalless draw in a game that the Magpies dominated at Ewood Park.
- What was that thingamajigger he was playing with during school?
- With a German lad and a young Australian couple, I ate caviar, borscht, blinnies and beef stroganoff in the dining car, exchanged naughty jokes, played chess, and drank too much vodka.
- Used in the Beginning of Sentence
- Playing the sintir (a long-necked, resonant lute), Mr. Hakmoun leads spellbinding trance ceremonies, and with castanets around his ankles, performs acrobatic dances.
- Playing a radio in the office did not go over well with his coworkers.
- Playing wind instruments involves tonguing on the reed or mouthpiece.
- Used in the Ending of Sentence
- The national anthem having been played, both teams took the field and prepared for play.
- Some avant-garde composers request that performers detune their instruments before playing.
- They stopped for a moment at the end of the set to catch their breath before resuming play.
- Used in the Middle of Sentence
Definition of play in English Dictionary
- Part-of-Speech Hierarchy
- Nouns
- Countable nouns
- Singularia tantum
- Uncountable nouns
- Uncountable nouns
- Countable nouns
- Verbs
- Copulative verbs
- Ergative verbs
- Intransitive verbs
- Transitive verbs
- Copulative verbs
- Nouns
Source: Wiktionary
Grammatically, this word "play" is a noun, more specifically, a countable noun and a singularia tantum. It's also a verb, more specifically, a copulative verb, an ergative verb, an intransitive verb and a transitive verb.