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play
plate·let /'pleItlEt/ n any of the very small plate-shaped cells in the blood that help to make it go solid when bleeding takes place
'plate rack n a frame for storing plates, or where plates, cups etc are put to dry after washing
plate tec·ton·ics /'pleIt tek`tOnIks||-t@:/ n [U] the study of the formation, movement, and destruction of the plates which form the surface of the earth under the ocean, and on which the land rests
plat·form¹ /'plætfO:m||-fo:rm/ n 1 a raised flat surface built along the side of the track at a railway station for travellers getting on or off a train: The Edinburgh train will depart from platform six. 2 a) a tall or high structure built so that people can stand or work above the surrounding area: an oil exploration platform in the sea | They built a platform in the trees from which they could watch the animals unobserved. b) a raised floor or stage for speakers, performers etc: This is the young pianist's first appearance on the concert platform. | Please address your remarks to the platform. (=to the people on the platform) | (fig.) Television should not provide a platform for terrorists' views. (=a place where they can express their views publicly) 3 BrE the open part at the end of a DOUBLE-DECKER bus, where passengers enter and leave. Open platforms are increasingly being replaced by double doors. 4 [C usually sing.] the main ideas and aims of a political party, especially as stated before an election: What will be the main plank (=principle or promise) in your party's platform?
platform² adj [A] (of a shoe or part of a shoe) unusually high because of an additional thickness of material: platform soles -> see Feature on page A8
Plath, Syl·vi·a /plæT, 'sIlvIE/ (1932–63) a US poet, famous for her poems about women and death, and for her novel The Bell Jar. She was married to the British poet Ted HUGHES. She killed herself after many years of unhappiness.
plat·i·num /'plætInEm/ n [U] a greyish-white metal that is a simple substance (ELEMENT) that does not become dirty or impure and is used especially in very valuable jewellery and in chemical industries: a platinum ring
,platinum 'blonde n infml a young woman having light silver-grey hair, often not natural but coloured with chemicals -> compare PEROXIDE BLONDE
plat·i·tude /'plætItju:d||-tu:d/ n derog a statement that is true but not new, interesting, or clever: a very uninspiring speech full of platitudes -> compare CLICHÉ, COMMONPLACE
—tudinous /`plætI'tju:dInEs||-'tu:-/ adj
Pla·to /'pleItEU/ (?427–347BC) an ancient Greek PHILOSOPHER, who had a very great influence on European philosophy. He explained his ideas in the form of written conversations. His teacher was SOCRATES, and after Socrates' death he established a school called the Academy, where Aristotle was one of his students. His most famous work is The Republic, about the perfect state and form of government.
pla·ton·ic /plE'tOnIk||-'tA:-/ adj (of a relationship between a man and woman) just friendly, not sexual —ally /kli/ adv
pla·toon /plE'tu:n/ n [C+sing./pl. v] a small group of soldiers which is part of a COMPANY and is commanded by a LIEUTENANT
plat·ter /'plætE/ n 1 AmE for a large PLATE 2 old use a flat dish, usually made of wood 3 AmE infml RECORD: Your favourite DJ will be spinning the platters from 4 to 6 this afternoon.
plat·y·pus /'plætIpEs/ also duckbilled platypus n a small furry Australian animal that has a beak and feet like a duck's, lays eggs, and gives milk to its young
plau·dit /'plO:dIt/ n [usually pl.] fml or pomp praise: Her performance won/earned the plaudits of the critics. (=they praised it)
plau·si·ble /'plO:zEbEl/ adj often derog 1 (of a statement, argument etc) seeming to be true or reasonable: Your explanation sounds plausible, but I'm not sure I believe it. -> compare FEASIBLE 2 (of a person) skilled in producing statements that seem reasonable, but which may not be true: a plausible rogue -> opposite IMPLAUSIBLE —bly adv —bility /`plO:zE'bIlItI/ n [U]
play¹ /pleI/ n 1 [U] activity for amusement only, especially among children: the happy laughter of children at play | She only did it in play – she didn't really mean it. 2 [C] a piece of writing (to be) performed by actors in a theatre or on television or radio: one of Shakespeare's best-known plays | He has written a new TV play. | The college drama society are going to put on (=perform) a play. 3 [U] the action in a sport: We've had an interesting day's play in the cricket match. | Rain stopped play. | unfair play 4 [U] fml the state of being in effect or operation: He had to bring all his experience into play (=use all his experience) to beat this difficult opponent. | Now that television has become important in elections, a new set of circumstances has come into play. 5 [U] freedom of movement given by slight looseness: There's too much play in the steering wheel. | He gave full/free play to his feelings and began to shout angrily. 6 [S] an act intended to bring about a particular result: He decided to make a play for the girl. (=to try to attract her) 7 [(the) S] especially lit light, quick, not lasting movement: the play of sunshine and shadow among the trees 8 in/into/out of play (of the ball in football, cricket etc) in/into/not in a position where the rules of the game allow it to be played: The defender kicked the ball out of play. -> see also CHILD'S PLAY, FAIR PLAY; see RECREATION (USAGE)
play² v 1 [I(with)] (especially of children) to amuse oneself with a game, using toys, running and jumping etc: Can Bob come out to play (with me)? | The children were playing with their train set. 2 [I;T(on, for, to)] a) to produce sounds (from): The radio was playing very loudly. | He just sits in his room playing records on his stereo. b) to perform (a piece of music) on (a musical instrument): A world-famous violinist is playing at tonight's concert. | She plays the piano well. | He'd written a tune, and played it for/to us on the piano. | [+obj(I)+obj(d)] He played us a tune on the piano. 3 [I;T(against, for)] to take part in (a sport or game): Our best defender is injured and won't be able to play today. | He plays cricket for England. | Can you play chess? | England are playing France (=playing against them) at football tomorrow. 4 [T(on)] to plan and carry out for one's own amusement or gain: They played a joke on me. | (fig.) I thought my eyes must be playing tricks on me. (=deceiving me) 5 [+adv/prep;T] a) (of an actor or theatre group) to perform (in): (The part of) Othello was played by Olivier. | Olivier is playing in 'Othello' at the National Theatre. | (fig.) The United States played a key role in getting the hostages released. b) (of a play or film) to be performed or shown: 'Gone with the Wind' is playing at the Odeon. 6 [L] to pretend to be: She likes to play the great lady. (=behave in a very grand way) | The children are playing doctors and nurses. | He played dead. | (fig.) You're always playing the fool. (=behaving in a silly way) 7 [T+obj+adv/prep] to hit and send (a ball): She played the ball just over the net. 8 [T] to place (a playing card) face upwards on the table: Shall I play my jack or my queen? 9 [+adv/prep] often lit to move quickly, irregularly, or continuously: A smile played across her lips. | She watched the sunlight playing on the water. 10 [T+obj+adv/prep] to aim or direct, especially continuously: The firemen played their hoses on the burning buildings. 11 [T+obj+adv/prep] infml to deal with; handle: 'I don't know how you want to play this meeting.' 'It could be rather tricky, so we'd better play it carefully.' 12 play ball infml to agree to do what someone else has suggested; COOPERATE: We wanted to get the union's agreement on the new procedures, but they wouldn't play ball (with us). 13 play for time to cause delay, in order to gain more time 14 play hard to get infml to pretend one is not sexually interested in someone in order to make them more interested 15 play hooky/hookey -> see HOOKY 16 play into someone's hands to behave in a way that gives someone an advantage over one 17 play it again, Sam qte a slightly changed phrase from the film Casablanca, now used humorously when asking someone to play a piece of music again 18 play it by ear to act according to changing conditions, rather than making fixed plans in advance 19 play it cool infml to behave in a calm and unexcited way; not lose one's temper 20 play (it) safe infml to act in such a way that one has the best chance of avoiding trouble: It may not rain, but you'd better play (it) safe and take a raincoat. 21 play one's cards right/properly infml to use well whatever chances, conditions, facts etc, one has: If you play your cards right you could make a nice little profit out of this job. 22 play the devil with to do a lot of harm to: Snow storms are playing the devil with food deliveries to the area. 23 play the field infml, especially AmE to have social and perhaps sexual relations with more than one