play (EN)

verb, noun

verb “play”

1. to take part in enjoyable activities for fun
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   The children were playing happily on the swings at the park.
2. to participate in a sport or game
   Every Saturday, she plays soccer with her local club.
3. to be in competition with another team or player in a game
   Tomorrow, our school's soccer team will play the reigning champions in the finals.
4. to portray a character in a theatrical or film performance
   In the school performance, she played the role of a brave astronaut.
5. to create music with a musical instrument
   She played the violin beautifully at the concert last night.
6. to produce music
   The pianist played beautifully, filling the room with melodious tunes.
7. to operate a device to watch or listen to a recording
   She played the DVD of the new film she borrowed.
8. to perform a theatrical work
   The drama club is playing "Romeo and Juliet" at the school theater this weekend.
9. to pretend or give the impression of something one is not
   When the teacher asked who broke the vase, the children played innocent, looking at each other with feigned confusion.

noun “play”

1. activities done for enjoyment, typically by children
   At the park, the joyful sounds of kids at play filled the air.
2. the way a game is conducted or progresses
   During the chess tournament, play was interrupted several times due to technical issues.
3. the quality of someone's participation in a sport or game
   After practicing all summer, her play on the tennis court was noticeably stronger.
4. a specific action or maneuver in a game
   During the basketball game, her quick steal and layup was the most impressive play of the night.
5. a staged drama or comedy with actors
   The school's drama club is putting on a play about the life of Alexander Hamilton.
6. a strategic move or initiative, often in a business or political context
   The tech company's play into renewable energy surprised many industry experts.
7. the movement or interplay of something
   As the leaves rustled in the breeze, a mesmerizing play of dappled sunlight danced upon the forest floor.
8. the allowable movement in a mechanical part
   When I tried to tighten the bolt, I noticed there was a lot of play in the joint, which meant it wasn't secure.
9. a single instance of a digital media file being played
   The latest viral video on YouTube has already hit a million plays in just 24 hours.
10. a control button that starts the playback of media
    To start watching the movie, simply press the play button on your remote control.