2 VERB When you play a sport, game, or match, you take part in it. □ [V n] All they want to do is sit around playing computer games. □ [V n + with ] Alain was playing cards with his friends. □ [V n] I used to play basketball. □ [V + for ] I want to play for my country. □ [V ] He captained the team but he didn't actually play. ● N‑UNCOUNT Play is also a noun. □ Both sides adopted the Continental style of play.
3 VERB When one person or team plays another or plays against them, they compete against them in a sport or game. □ [V n] Northern Ireland will play Latvia. □ [V + against ] I've played against him a few times. ● N‑UNCOUNT Play is also a noun. □ Fischer won after 5 hours and 41 minutes of play.
4 VERB When you play the ball or play a shot in a game or sport, you kick or hit the ball. □ [V n] Think first before playing the ball. □ [V n adv] I played the ball back slightly.
5 VERB If you play a joke or a trick on someone, you deceive them or give them a surprise in a way that you think is funny, but that often causes problems for them or annoys them. □ [V n + on ] Someone had played a trick on her, stretched a piece of string at the top of those steps. □ [V n] I thought: 'This cannot be happening, somebody must be playing a joke'.
6 VERB If you play with an object or with your hair, you keep moving it or touching it with your fingers, perhaps because you are bored or nervous. □ [V + with ] She stared at the floor, idly playing with the strap of her handbag.
7 N‑COUNT A play is a piece of writing which is performed in a theatre, on the radio, or on television. □ [+ about ] The company put on a play about the homeless. □ It's my favourite Shakespeare play.
8 VERB If an actor plays a role or character in a play or film, he or she performs the part of that character. □ [V n] …Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, in which he played Hyde. □ [V n] His ambition is to play the part of Dracula.
9 V‑LINK You can use play to describe how someone behaves, when they are deliberately behaving in a certain way or like a certain type of person. For example, to play the innocent , means to pretend to be innocent, and to play deaf means to pretend not to hear something. □ [V n] Hill tried to play the peacemaker. □ [V adj] So you want to play nervous today?
10 VERB You can describe how someone deals with a situation by saying that they play it in a certain way. For example, if someone plays it cool , they keep calm and do not show much emotion, and if someone plays it straight , they behave in an honest and direct way. □ [V n adj/adv] Investors are playing it cautious, and they're playing it smart.
11 VERB If you play a musical instrument or play a tune on a musical instrument, or if a musical instrument plays , music is produced from it. □ [V n] Nina had been playing the piano. □ [V + for ] He played for me. □ [V n n] Place your baby in her seat and play her a lullaby. □ [V ] The guitars played. [Also V n for n]
12 VERB If you play a record or a CD, you put it into a machine and sound is produced. If a record or a CD is playing , sound is being produced from it. □ [V n] She played her records too loudly. □ [V ] There is classical music playing in the background. [Also V n n]
13 VERB If a musician or group of musicians plays or plays a concert, they perform music for people to listen or dance to. □ [V ] A band was playing. □ [V n] He will play concerts in Amsterdam and Paris.
14 PHRASE If you ask what someone is playing at , you are angry because you think they are doing something stupid or wrong. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ What on earth are you playing at?
15 PHRASE When something comes into play or is brought into play , it begins to be used or to have an effect. □ The real existence of a military option will come into play.
16 PHRASE If something or someone plays a part or plays a role in a situation, they are involved in it and have an effect on it. □ The U.N. would play a major role in monitoring a ceasefire. □ …the role played by diet in disease.
17 to play ball → see ball
18 to play your cards right → see card
19 to play it by ear → see ear
20 to play fair → see fair
21 to play second fiddle → see fiddle
22 to play the field → see field
23 to play with fire → see fire ➊
24 to play the fool → see fool
25 to play to the gallery → see gallery
26 to play into someone's hands → see hand ➊
27 to play hard to get → see hard
28 to play havoc → see havoc
29 to play host → see host
30 to play safe → see safe