[pleɪ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose
(e.g: the children were playing by a pool)

- take part in (a sport)
(e.g: I play squash and badminton)

- be cooperative
(e.g: he needs financial backing, but the building societies won't play)

- represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film
(e.g: early in her career she played Ophelia)

- perform on (a musical instrument)
(e.g: a man was playing a guitar)

- move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker
(e.g: little beams of light played over the sea)

- allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in
(e.g: no fisherman ever played a bonita more carefully or with greater wile)


Phrases:
- a play on words
- bring into play
- come into play
- make a play for
- make great play of
- make play with
- play a hunch
- play a part
- play a trick on
- play both ends against the middle
- play by one's own rules
- play by the rules
- play fair
- play fast and loose
- play favourites
- play for time
- play into someone's hands
- play it cool
- play it safe
- play it straight
- play oneself in
- play someone false
- play something by ear
- play the market
- play with fire

Origin:
Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’

[pleɪ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children
(e.g: a child at play may use a stick as an aeroplane)

- the conducting of a sporting match
(e.g: rain wrecked the second day's play)

- a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast
(e.g: the actors put on a new play)

- the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move
(e.g: the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play)

- light and constantly changing movement
(e.g: the artist exploits the play of light across the surface)


Phrases:
- a play on words
- bring into play
- come into play
- make a play for
- make great play of
- make play with
- play a hunch
- play a part
- play a trick on
- play both ends against the middle
- play by one's own rules
- play by the rules
- play fair
- play fast and loose
- play favourites
- play for time
- play into someone's hands
- play it cool
- play it safe
- play it straight
- play oneself in
- play someone false
- play something by ear
- play the market
- play with fire

Origin:
Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’