play

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A story written to be performed by actors on a stage.

   The playwright wrote several plays, but only one reached Broadway.

2. 2
   noun

   Activity done for fun and enjoyment, especially by children.

   It was all done in play.

3. 3
   noun

   A planned move or action in a team sport.

   The coach drew up the plays for the team.

4. 4
   noun

   A small amount of free movement in something.

   There was too much play in the steering wheel.

Common collocations

• play a game Verb + noun
• play music Verb + noun
• playing card Adjective + noun
• school play Adjective + noun
• play a card Verb + noun
• play a piece Verb + noun
• play a queen Verb + noun
• play a song Verb + noun
• see a play Verb + noun
• watch a play Verb + noun
• creative play Adjective + noun
• fair play Adjective + noun

From Middle English pleyen, playen, pleȝen, plæien, also Middle English plaȝen, plawen (compare English plaw), from Old English pleġan, pleoġan, plæġan, and Old English plegian, pleagian, plagian (“to play, exercise, etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *plehan (“to care about, be concerned with”) and Proto-West Germanic *plegōn (“to engage, move”), of uncertain origin. cognates and related terms Cognate with Scots play (“to act or move briskly, cause to move, stir”), Saterland Frisian pleegje (“to look after, care for, maintain”), West Frisian pleegje, pliigje (“to commit, perform, bedrive”), Mid…

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