6  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Play  \Play\,  v.  t. 
 
  {To  play  hob},  to  play  the  part  of  a  mischievous  spirit;  to 
  work  mischief.  Plebs  \Plebs\  (pl[e^]bz),  n.  [L.  Cf 
  {Plebe}.] 
  1.  The  commonalty  of  ancient  Rome  who  were  citizens  without 
  the  usual  political  rights;  the  plebeians;  -- 
  distinguished  from  the  {patricians}. 
 
  2.  Hence  the  common  people;  the  populace;  --  construed  as  a 
  pl 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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.  pflegen  of  unknown  origin.  [root]28.  Cf  {Plight}, 
  n.] 
  1.  To  engage  in  sport  or  lively  recreation;  to  exercise  for 
  the  sake  of  amusement;  to  frolic;  to  spot. 
 
  As  Cannace  was  playing  in  her  walk.  --Chaucer. 
 
  The  lamb  thy  riot  dooms  to  bleed  to-day,  Had  he  thy 
  reason,  would  he  skip  and  play!  --Pope. 
 
  And  some  the  darlings  of  their  Lord,  Play  smiling 
  with  the  flame  and  sword.  --Keble. 
 
  2.  To  act  with  levity  or  thoughtlessness;  to  trifle;  to  be 
  careless. 
 
  ``Nay,''  quod  this  monk,  ``I  have  no  lust  to 
  pleye.''  --Chaucer. 
 
  Men  are  apt  to  play  with  their  healths.  --Sir  W. 
  Temple. 
 
  3.  To  contend,  or  take  part  in  a  game;  as  to  play  ball; 
  hence  to  gamble;  as  he  played  for  heavy  stakes. 
 
  4.  To  perform  on  an  instrument  of  music;  as  to  play  on  a 
  flute. 
 
  One  that  .  .  .  can  play  well  on  an  instrument. 
  --Ezek. 
  xxxiii  32. 
 
  Play,  my  friend,  and  charm  the  charmer.  --Granville. 
 
  5.  To  act  to  behave;  to  practice  deception. 
 
  His  mother  played  false  with  a  smith.  --Shak. 
 
  6.  To  move  in  any  manner;  especially,  to  move  regularly  with 
  alternate  or  reciprocating  motion;  to  operate;  to  act  as 
  the  fountain  plays. 
 
  The  heart  beats,  the  blood  circulates,  the  lungs 
  play.  --Cheyne. 
 
  7.  To  move  gayly;  to  wanton;  to  disport. 
 
  Even  as  the  waving  sedges  play  with  wind.  --Shak. 
 
  The  setting  sun  Plays  on  their  shining  arms  and 
  burnished  helmets.  --Addison. 
 
  All  fame  is  foreign  but  of  true  desert,  Plays  round 
  the  head,  but  comes  not  to  the  heart.  --Pope. 
 
  8.  To  act  on  the  stage;  to  personate  a  character. 
 
  A  lord  will  hear  your  play  to-night.  --Shak. 
 
  Courts  are  theaters  where  some  men  play.  --Donne. 
 
  {To  play  into  a  person's  hands},  to  act  or  to  manage 
  matters,  to  his  advantage  or  benefit. 
 
  {To  play  off},  to  affect;  to  feign;  to  practice  artifice. 
 
  {To  play  upon}. 
  a  To  make  sport  of  to  deceive. 
 
  Art  thou  alive?  Or  is  it  fantasy  that  plays  upon 
  our  eyesight.  --Shak. 
  b  To  use  in  a  droll  manner;  to  give  a  droll  expression 
  or  application  to  as  to  play  upon  words 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Play  \Play\,  n. 
  1.  Amusement;  sport;  frolic;  gambols. 
 
  2.  Any  exercise,  or  series  of  actions,  intended  for  amusement 
  or  diversion;  a  game. 
 
  John  naturally  loved  rough  play.  --Arbuthnot. 
 
  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. 
 
  4.  Action  use  employment;  exercise;  practice;  as  fair 
  play;  sword  play;  a  play  of  wit.  ``The  next  who  comes  in 
  play.''  --Dryden. 
 
  5.  A  dramatic  composition;  a  comedy  or  tragedy;  a  composition 
  in  which  characters  are  represented  by  dialogue  and 
  action 
 
  A  play  ought  to  be  a  just  image  of  human  nature. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  6.  The  representation  or  exhibition  of  a  comedy  or  tragedy; 
  as  he  attends  ever  play. 
 
  7.  Performance  on  an  instrument  of  music. 
 
  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. 
 
  The  joints  are  let  exactly  into  one  another,  that 
  they  have  no  play  between  them  --Moxon. 
 
  9.  Hence  liberty  of  acting;  room  for  enlargement  or  display; 
  scope;  as  to  give  full  play  to  mirth. 
 
  {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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Play  \Play\,  v.  t. 
  1.  To  put  in  action  or  motion;  as  to  play  cannon  upon  a 
  fortification;  to  play  a  trump. 
 
  First  Peace  and  Silence  all  disputes  control,  Then 
  Order  plays  the  soul.  --Herbert. 
 
  2.  To  perform  music  upon  as  to  play  the  flute  or  the  organ. 
 
  3.  To  perform,  as  a  piece  of  music,  on  an  instrument;  as  to 
  play  a  waltz  on  the  violin. 
 
  4.  To  bring  into  sportive  or  wanton  action  to  exhibit  in 
  action  to  execute;  as  to  play  tricks. 
 
  Nature  here  Wantoned  as  in  her  prime,  and  played  at 
  will  Her  virgin  fancies.  --Milton. 
 
  5.  To  act  or  perform  (a  play);  to  represent  in  music  action 
  as  to  play  a  comedy;  also  to  act  in  the  character  of  to 
  represent  by  acting;  to  simulate;  to  behave  like  as  to 
  play  King  Lear;  to  play  the  woman. 
 
  Thou  canst  play  the  rational  if  thou  wilt.  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  6.  To  engage  in  or  go  together  with  as  a  contest  for 
  amusement  or  for  a  wager  or  prize;  as  to  play  a  game  at 
  baseball. 
 
  7.  To  keep  in  play,  as  a  hooked  fish,  in  order  to  land  it 
 
  {To  play  off},  to  display;  to  show  to  put  in  exercise;  as 
  to  play  off  tricks. 
 
  {To  play  one's  cards},  to  manage  one's  means  or 
  opportunities;  to  contrive. 
 
  {Played  out},  tired  out  exhausted;  at  the  end  of  one's 
  resources.  [Colloq.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  play 
  adj  :  imagined  as  in  a  play;  "the  make-believe  world  of  theater"; 
  "play  money";  "dangling  their  legs  in  the  water  to 
  catch  pretend  fish"  [syn:  {make-believe},  {play(a)},  {pretend}] 
  n  1:  a  dramatic  work  intended  for  performance  by  actors  on  a 
  stage;  "he  wrote  several  plays  but  only  one  was  produced 
  on  Broadway"  [syn:  {drama}] 
  2:  a  theatrical  performance  of  a  drama;  "the  play  lasted  two 
  hours" 
  3:  a  preset  plan  of  action  in  team  sports;  "the  coach  drew  up 
  the  plays  for  her  team" 
  4:  a  deliberate  coordinated  movement  requiring  dexterity  and 
  skill;  "he  made  a  great  play"  [syn:  {maneuver},  {manoeuvre}] 
  5:  a  state  in  which  action  is  feasible;  "the  ball  was  still  in 
  play";  "insiders  said  the  company's  stock  was  in  play" 
  6:  utilization  or  exercise;  "the  play  of  the  imagination" 
  7:  an  attempt  to  get  something  "they  made  a  futile  play  for 
  power";  "he  made  a  bid  to  gain  attention"  [syn:  {bid}] 
  8:  play  by  children  that  is  guided  more  by  imagination  than  by 
  fixed  rules  "Freud  believed  in  the  utility  of  play  to  a 
  small  child"  [syn:  {child's  play}] 
  9:  (in  games  or  plays  or  other  performances)  the  time  during 
  which  play  proceeds;  "rain  stopped  play  in  the  4th  inning" 
  [syn:  {playing  period},  {period  of  play}] 
  10:  the  removal  of  constraints;  "he  gave  free  rein  to  his 
  impulses";  "they  gave  full  play  to  the  artist's  talent" 
  [syn:  {free  rein}] 
  11:  a  weak  and  tremulous  light;  "the  shimmer  of  colors  on 
  iridescent  feathers";  "the  play  of  light  on  the  water" 
  [syn:  {shimmer}] 
  12:  verbal  wit  (often  at  another's  expense  but  not  to  be  taken 
  seriously);  "he  became  a  figure  of  fun"  [syn:  {fun},  {sport}] 
  13:  movement  or  space  for  movement;  "there  was  too  much  play  in 
  the  steering  wheel"  [syn:  {looseness}]  [ant:  {tightness}] 
  14:  gay  or  light-hearted  recreational  activity  for  diversion  or 
  amusement;  "it  was  all  done  in  play";  "their  frolic  in 
  the  surf  threatened  to  become  ugly"  [syn:  {frolic},  {romp}, 
  {gambol},  {caper}] 
  15:  the  act  of  playing  for  stakes  in  the  hope  of  winning 
  (including  the  payment  of  a  price  for  a  chance  to  win  a 
  prize);  "his  gambling  cost  him  a  fortune";  "there  was 
  heavy  play  at  the  blackjack  table"  [syn:  {gambling},  {gaming}] 
  16:  the  activity  of  doing  something  in  an  agreed  succession;  "it 
  is  my  turn"  or  "it  is  still  my  play"  [syn:  {turn}] 
  17:  the  act  using  a  sword  (or  other  weapon)  vigorously  and 
  skillfully 
  v  1:  play  games,  play  sports;  "We  played  hockey  all  afternoon"; 
  "play  cards" 
  2:  act  in  a  specified  way  "This  factor  played  only  a  minor 
  part  in  his  decision" 
  3:  play  (music)  on  an  instrument;  "The  band  played  all  night 
  long" 
  4:  play  a  role  or  part  "Gielgud  played  Hamlet";  "She  wants  to 
  act  Lady  Macbeth  but  she  is  too  young  for  the  role"  [syn: 
  {act},  {represent}] 
  5:  be  at  play;  be  engaged  in  playful  activity;  typical  of 
  children;  "The  kids  were  playing  outside  all  day";  "I  used 
  to  play  with  trucks  as  a  little  girl" 
  6:  as  of  melodies;  "Play  it  again  Sam";  "She  played  the  third 
  movement  very  beautifully"  [syn:  {spiel},  {render}] 
  7:  perform  music  on  (a  musical  instrument);  "He  plays  the 
  flute";  "Can  you  play  on  this  old  recorder?"  [syn:  {play 
  on}] 
  8:  pretend  to  have  certain  qualities  or  state  of  mind;  "He 
  acted  the  idiot";  "She  plays  deaf  when  the  news  are  bad" 
  [syn:  {act},  {act  as}] 
  9:  move  or  seem  to  move  quickly,  lightly,  or  irregularly;  "The 
  spotlights  played  on  the  politicians" 
  10:  bet  or  wager  (money);  "He  played  $20  on  the  new  horse";  "She 
  plays  the  races" 
  11:  engage  in  recreational  activities  rather  than  work  occupy 
  oneself  in  a  diversion;  "On  weekends  I  play";  "The 
  students  all  recreate  alike"  [syn:  {recreate}] 
  12:  pretend  to  be  somebody  in  the  framework  of  a  game  or  playful 
  activity;  "Let's  play  like  I  am  mommy";  "Play  cowboy  and 
  Indians" 
  13:  cause  to  happen  or  to  occur  as  a  consequence;  "wreak  havoc"; 
  "bring  comments";  "play  a  joke";  "The  rain  brought  relief 
  to  the  drought-stricken  area"  [syn:  {bring},  {work},  {wreak}, 
  {make  for}] 
  14:  perform  on  a  certain  location:  "He  played  the  casinos  in  Las 
  Vegas" 
  15:  put  (a  card  or  piece)  into  play  during  a  game:  "He  is 
  playing  his  cards  close  to  his  chest" 
  16:  engage  in  an  activity  as  if  it  were  a  game:  "They  played 
  games  on  their  opponents" 
  17:  behave  in  a  certain  way  "play  safe,"  "play  it  safe";  "Play 
  into  the  hands  of" 
  18:  cause  to  be  played:  "They  ran  the  tapes  over  and  over  again" 
  [syn:  {run}] 
  19:  manipulate  manually  with  no  purpose  or  aim  often  without 
  being  conscious  of  doing  so  "She  played  nervously  with 
  her  wedding  ring";  "Don't  fiddle  with  the  screws"  [syn:  {toy}, 
  {fiddle},  {diddle}] 
  20:  use  to  one's  advantage;  "She  palys  on  her  clients'  emotions" 
  21:  consider  not  very  seriously;  "He  is  trifiling  with  her"; 
  "She  plays  with  the  thought  of  moving  to  Tasmania"  [syn: 
  {dally},  {trifle}] 
  22:  be  received  or  accepted;  "This  speech  didn't  play  well  with 
  the  American  public" 
  23:  behave  carelessly  or  indifferently;  "Play  about  with  a  young 
  girl's  affection"  [syn:  {dally},  {toy},  {flirt}] 
  24:  cause  to  move  or  operate  freely  within  a  bounded  space,  as 
  of  machinery 
  25:  perform  on  a  stage  or  theater;  "She  acts  in  this  play";  "He 
  acted  in  "Julius  Caesar";  "I  played  in  "A  Christmas 
  Carol"  [syn:  {act},  {roleplay},  {playact}] 
  26:  be  performed;  "What's  playing  in  the  local  movie  theater?" 
  27:  discharge  or  direct  or  be  discharged  or  directed  as  if  in  a 
  continuous  stream:  "play  water  from  a  hose";  "The 
  fountains  played  all  day" 
  28:  contend  against  an  opponent  in  a  sport,  game,  or  battle; 
  "Princeton  plays  Yale  this  weekend";  "Charlie  likes  to 
  play  Mary"  [syn:  {meet},  {encounter},  {take  on}] 
  29:  exhaust  (a  hooked  fish)  by  allowing  it  to  pull  on  the  line 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  PLAY 
 
    A  language  for  {real-time}  music  synthesis. 
  1977. 
 
  ["An  Introduction  to  the  Play  Program",  J.  Chadabe  ete  al 
  Computer  Music  J  2,1  (1978)]. 
 
  (1999-06-04) 
 
 

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