play

Etymology
From, , , , also , compare English, from , , , and , , , from  and ; both perhaps from , from  (compare 🇨🇬, , 🇨🇬).

Cognate with 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬,, 🇨🇬 "to dance, leap for joy, rejoice, be glad"; compare Modern 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬. Related also to 🇨🇬. More at,.

The noun is from, from , , , deverbative of ; see above.

Verb

 * 1)  To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
 * 2) * 2003, Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont et al. (eds.), Joining Society: Social Interaction and Learning in Adolescence and Youth, Cambridge Univ. Press, p.52:
 * 3)  To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.
 * 4)  To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
 * 5)  To compete against, in a game.
 * 6)  To be the opposing score to.
 * 7)  To act or behave in a stated way.
 * 8) To give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be.
 * 9)  To act as (the indicated role).
 * 10) To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre).
 * 11) * 1984,, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
 * "en"
 * 1)  To compete against, in a game.
 * 2)  To be the opposing score to.
 * 3)  To act or behave in a stated way.
 * 4) To give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be.
 * 5)  To act as (the indicated role).
 * 6) To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre).
 * 7) * 1984,, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
 * "en"
 * 1)  To act or behave in a stated way.
 * 2) To give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be.
 * 3)  To act as (the indicated role).
 * 4) To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre).
 * 5) * 1984,, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
 * "en"
 * 1)  To act as (the indicated role).
 * 2) To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre).
 * 3) * 1984,, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
 * "en"
 * 1)  To act as (the indicated role).
 * 2) To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre).
 * 3) * 1984,, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
 * "en"
 * 1) To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre).
 * 2) * 1984,, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
 * "en"
 * 1) * 1984,, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
 * "en"
 * "en"

- I'm not a doctor, but I do play one on TV.


 * 1)  To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
 * 2)  To produce music using a musical instrument.
 * 3)  To produce music.
 * 4)  To operate (a device or media) so as to cause sound (especially music) or moving pictures to be produced.
 * 5)  To render (a musical title, compositional style, film title, etc.) using a musical instrument or device.
 * 6)  To emit or relay sound (especially music) or moving pictures;  to operate media.
 * 7)  To be performed, reproduced, or shown.
 * 8)  To perform or give performances in or at (a venue or location).
 * 9)  To act or perform (a play).
 * 10)  To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
 * 11) To move in a light or brisk manner.
 * 12) To move so as to fall upon or sweep across something, or to direct or operate (something) in such a manner.
 * 13) To move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro.
 * 14)  To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy.
 * 15)  To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.
 * 16)  To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
 * 17)  To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
 * 18) To gamble.
 * 19)  To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
 * 20)  To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
 * 21)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 22)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To be performed, reproduced, or shown.
 * 2)  To perform or give performances in or at (a venue or location).
 * 3)  To act or perform (a play).
 * 4)  To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
 * 5) To move in a light or brisk manner.
 * 6) To move so as to fall upon or sweep across something, or to direct or operate (something) in such a manner.
 * 7) To move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro.
 * 8)  To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy.
 * 9)  To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.
 * 10)  To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
 * 11)  To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
 * 12) To gamble.
 * 13)  To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
 * 14)  To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
 * 15)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 16)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1) To move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro.
 * 2)  To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy.
 * 3)  To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.
 * 4)  To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
 * 5)  To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
 * 6) To gamble.
 * 7)  To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
 * 8)  To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
 * 9)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 10)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.
 * 2)  To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
 * 3)  To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
 * 4) To gamble.
 * 5)  To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
 * 6)  To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
 * 7)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 8)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
 * 2)  To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
 * 3) To gamble.
 * 4)  To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
 * 5)  To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
 * 6)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 7)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
 * 2)  To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
 * 3)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 4)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 2)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
 * 2)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
 * 1)  To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.

Noun

 * 1)  Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
 * 2) * 1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure
 * You know, when I was around 7-11 years old, my favorite play would be "boys." One of us, Bridget, Maryellen, or I, would say "Let's play boys." We all had boy names, set up the pretend surroundings, and acted like boys.
 * 1)  Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
 * 2)  The conduct, or course, of a game.
 * 3)  An individual's performance in a sport or game.
 * 4)  A short sequence of action within a game.
 * 5)  An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.
 * 6)   A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
 * 7)  A theatrical performance featuring actors.
 * 8)  An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.
 * 9)  A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
 * 10)  Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)
 * 11)  Freedom to move.
 * give play to your imagination
 * 1) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack.
 * 2)  Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.
 * 3) * 1996, "toptigger", (on Internet newsgroup alt.personals.spanking.punishment)
 * Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play
 * 1)  An instance of watching or listening to media.
 * 2)  An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting.
 * 3)  A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
 * 4)  An instance of wordplay.
 * 5)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
 * 1)  An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.
 * 2)  A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
 * 3)  Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)
 * 4)  Freedom to move.
 * give play to your imagination
 * 1) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack.
 * 2)  Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.
 * 3) * 1996, "toptigger", (on Internet newsgroup alt.personals.spanking.punishment)
 * Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play
 * 1)  An instance of watching or listening to media.
 * 2)  An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting.
 * 3)  A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
 * 4)  An instance of wordplay.
 * 5)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
 * 1) * 1996, "toptigger", (on Internet newsgroup alt.personals.spanking.punishment)
 * Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play
 * 1)  An instance of watching or listening to media.
 * 2)  An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting.
 * 3)  A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
 * 4)  An instance of wordplay.
 * 5)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
 * 1)  An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting.
 * 2)  A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
 * 3)  An instance of wordplay.
 * 4)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
 * 1)  A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
 * 2)  An instance of wordplay.
 * 3)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
 * 1)  An instance of wordplay.
 * 2)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
 * 1)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
 * 1)  Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.

Etymology
Borrowed from, possibly via 🇨🇬.

Suffix

 * 1) play sexual roleplaying

Etymology
.

Noun

 * 1)  (theatrical performance; start key)

Etymology
.

Noun

 * 1)  button