n. the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully

n. activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"

n. (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"

n. a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"

n. an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"

n. utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"

n. movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"

n. a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"

n. a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"

n. the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"

n. a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"

v. employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"

v. exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"

v. participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

v. use or move; "I had to play my queen"

v. 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"

v. discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"

v. perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"

v. be performed or presented for public viewing; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

v. 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"

v. pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"

v. replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"

v. play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"

v. perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"

v. move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"

v. shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"

v. engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"

v. 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"

v. behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"

v. 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"