| the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully Synonyms: swordplay,
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| the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table" Synonyms: gambling, gaming,
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| activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child" Synonyms: child''s play,
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| (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" Synonyms: turn,
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| gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly" Synonyms: frolic, romp, gambol, caper,
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| a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop" Synonyms: maneuver, manoeuvre,
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| a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
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| an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention" Synonyms: bid,
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| utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"
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| movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel" Synonyms: looseness,
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| verbal wit or mockery (often at another''s expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport" Synonyms: fun, sport,
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| a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway" Synonyms: drama, dramatic play,
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| a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
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| a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water" Synonyms: shimmer,
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| the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist''s talent" Synonyms: free rein,
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| a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company''s stock was in play"
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| (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning" Synonyms: playing period, period of play,
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| engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea" Synonyms: toy,
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| pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad" Synonyms: act, act as,
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| exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"
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| consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania" Synonyms: dally, trifle,
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| participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
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| contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary" Synonyms: meet, encounter, take on,
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| employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
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| use or move; "I had to play my queen"
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| shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
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| bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
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| put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"
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| stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse" Synonyms: bet, wager,
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| make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
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| use to one''s advantage; "She plays on her clients'' emotions"
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| discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
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| manipulate manually or in one''s mind or imagination; "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don''t fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate" Synonyms: toy, fiddle, diddle,
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| cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "I cannot work a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area" Synonyms: bring, work, wreak, make for,
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| perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
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| be performed or presented for public viewing; "What''s playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats'' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
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| cause to emit recorded audio or video; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "I''ll play you my favorite record"; "He never tires of playing that video" Synonyms: run,
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| emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
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| play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband''s master" Synonyms: act, represent,
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| perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar''"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol''" Synonyms: act, roleplay, playact,
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| pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let''s play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
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| replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully" Synonyms: spiel,
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| play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
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| perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
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| move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"
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| cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
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| act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"
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| engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike" Synonyms: recreate,
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| be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
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| behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl''s affection" Synonyms: dally, toy, flirt,
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| behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
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| be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way; "This speech didn''t play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"
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