[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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. root28. cf. plight,
   n.
   1. to engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for
      the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
      1913 webster

            as cannace was playing in her walk.   --chaucer.
      1913 webster

            the lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day,
            had he thy reason, would he skip and play --pope.
      1913 webster

            and some, the darlings of their lord,
            play smiling with the flame and sword. --keble.
      1913 webster

   2. to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be
      careless.
      1913 webster

            "nay," quod this monk, "i have no lust to pleye."
                                                  --chaucer.
      1913 webster

            men are apt to play with their healths. --sir w.
                                                  temple.
      1913 webster

   3. to contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball;
      hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.
      1913 webster

   4. to perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a
      flute.
      1913 webster

            one that . . . can play well on an instrument.
                                                  --ezek.
                                                  xxxiii. 32.
      1913 webster

            play, my friend, and charm the charmer. --granville.
      1913 webster

   5. to act; to behave; to practice deception.
      1913 webster

            his mother played false with a smith. --shak.
      1913 webster

   6. to move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with
      alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as,
      the fountain plays.
      1913 webster

            the heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs
            play.                                 --cheyne.
      1913 webster

   7. to move gayly; to wanton; to disport.
      1913 webster

            even as the waving sedges play with wind. --shak.
      1913 webster

            the setting sun
            plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets.
                                                  --addison.
      1913 webster

            all fame is foreign but of true desert,
            plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.
                                                  --pope.
      1913 webster

   8. to act on the stage; to personate a character.
      1913 webster

            a lord will hear your play to-night.  --shak.
      1913 webster

            courts are theaters where some men play. --donne.
      1913 webster

   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.
          1913 webster

                art thou alive?
                or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight.
                                                  --shak.
          1913 webster
      b to use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression
          or application to; as, to play upon words.
          1913 webster
see also:
played playing plight to play into a person's hands to play off to play upon 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

play \play\, v. t.
   1. to put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a
      fortification; to play a trump.
      1913 webster

            first peace and silence all disputes control,
            then order plays the soul.            --herbert.
      1913 webster

   2. to perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.
      1913 webster

   3. to perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to
      play a waltz on the violin.
      1913 webster

   4. to bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in
      action; to execute; as, to play tricks.
      1913 webster

            nature here
            wantoned as in her prime, and played at will
            her virgin fancies.                   --milton.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            thou canst play the rational if thou wilt. --sir w.
                                                  scott.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   7. to keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
      1913 webster

   to play hob, to play the part of a mischievous spirit; to
      work mischief.

   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.
      1913 webster
see also:
to play hob to play off to play one's cards played out 

Cart Off >> C Words
Cart Off, definition of term: Cart Off
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Carry Off >> C Words
Carry Off, definition of term: Carry Off
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Cast Off >> C Words
Cast Off, definition of term: Cast Off
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Check Off >> C Words
Check Off, definition of term: Check Off
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Childs Play >> C Words
Childs Play, definition of term: Childs Play
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Call Off >> C Words
Call Off, definition of term: Call Off
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Break Off >> B Words
Break Off, definition of term: Break Off
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Better Off >> B Words
Better Off, definition of term: Better Off
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Bear Off >> B Words
Bear Off, definition of term: Bear Off
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Bite Off >> B Words
Bite Off, definition of term: Bite Off
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