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playingmore about playing

playing

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  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]: 
 
  Playing  \Play"ing\, 
  a.  &  vb  n.  of  {Play}. 
 
  {Playing  cards}.  See  under  {Card}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  playing 
  adj  :  occupied  in  play  or  playful  activities;  "heard  the  laughter 
  of  playing  children" 
  n  1:  the  act  of  playing  a  musical  instrument 
  2:  taking  part  in  a  game  or  sport  or  other  recreation 
  3:  the  performance  of  a  part  or  role  in  a  drama  [syn:  {acting}, 
  {playacting},  {performing}]




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