partner of the opposite sex 24 play the game infml to be fair, honest, and honourable 25 play the market to buy and sell business shares in order to try to make money 26 play to the gallery to do what will please most people in order to gain popularity, even if it is not the most sensible course of action
play about/around phr v [1] 1 to spend time having fun 2 [(with)] to have a non-serious sexual relationship: He's always playing around with other men's wives.
play along phr v 1 [(with)] to pretend to agree (with someone or someone's ideas), especially so as to gain an advantage or avoid trouble 2 [T(play sbdy. along)] to deceive (someone) by making them think one is soon going to do something for them
play at sthg. phr v [T+obj/v-ing] 1 (of children) to pretend to be or do for fun: little boys playing at (being) soldiers 2 to do in a way that is not very serious: His parents are so rich that he can just play at business/at being a businessman. | (showing annoyance or impatience) What (the hell) do you think you're playing at? – You can't change a wheel that way!
play sthg. ⇔ back phr v [T] to play (something that has just been recorded on a machine) so as to listen to it or look at it → see also PLAYBACK
play sthg. ⇔ down phr v [T] to make (something) seem less important: The government is trying to play down its role in the affair. (=trying to make it seem that it did not take an important part in it) → opposite PLAY UP
play sbdy. in phr v [T] to get (oneself) used to playing at the beginning of a game: I need a few more minutes to play myself in. (fig.) She's still playing herself into her new job as sales director.
play off phr v 1 [T(against) (play sbdy./sthg. ⇔ off)] to set (people or things) in opposition, especially for one's own advantage: She played her two boyfriends off (against each other). 2 [!] to play another match in order to decide who wins: The losing semifinalists will play off for third place. → see also PLAY-OFF
play on/upon sthg. phr v [T] to try to use or encourage (especially the feelings of others) for one's own advantage; EXPLOIT: This film about handicapped people is just playing on people's sympathy.
play sthg. ⇔ out phr v [T] to continue (a game or struggle) until a result is gained: Shall we call it a draw, or play it out? → see also PLAYED OUT
play up phr v 1 [T(play sthg. ⇔ up)] to give special importance to; EMPHASIZE: In the interview you should play up your experience of working abroad. → opposite PLAY DOWN 2 [I;T(= play sbdy. ⇔ up)] to cause trouble or suffering (to): My bad leg has been playing up again.
play up to sbdy. phr v [T] often derog to behave so as to win the favour of: She's always playing up to the boss.
play with sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to consider (an idea) not very seriously: She's been playing with the idea of starting her own business. 2 play with oneself euph for MASTUR-BATE 3 to play with that one can use; AVAILABLE: We haven't got a lot of time to play with, so we'd better hurry up. → see also PLAY², play with fire (FIRE¹)
play·a·ble /ˈpleɪbəl/ adj 1 (of a piece of ground used for sports) fit to be played on → see also UNPLAYABLE 2 (of music) not too difficult to be played
'play-act v [1] often derog to behave in a non-serious way, especially by pretending things that are not true ︷ing n [0]
play·back /ˈpleɪbæk/ also replay n a recording of something heard or seen, especially on television, that is played at once after it is made, so that one can study it carefully: a video playback machine → see also PLAY BACK
play·boy /pleɪbɔɪ/ n sometimes derog a wealthy man who lives a life of expensive pleasure, doing no work. Playboys are thought of as enjoying fast cars and the company of many beautiful women: a middle-aged playboy | his playboy lifestyle
Playboy trademark a magazine for men which is known for its pictures of young women wearing very few clothes and its articles about sex
play-by-play n [C usually sing.] AmE a report on what is happening in a game of sport, given at the same time as the game is being played
'Play-Doh trademark a soft substance like clay made in many different colours, used by children for making models or shapes
'play dough n [U] AmE a soft clay-like substance which children use to make brightly coloured models
played 'out adj 1 having lost one's former powers, ability etc 2 derog of no further use; old-fashioned: played-out ideas → see also PLAY OUT
play•er /ˈpleɪər/ n 1 a person taking part in a game or sport 2 a person playing a musical instrument 3 especially old use or pomp an actor → see also RECORD PLAYER
,player pi'ano also Pianola trademark a type of piano that is played by machinery, the music being controlled by a continuous roll of paper (piano roll) with holes cut into it for the notes
Play•er's /'pleɪərəl-ərz/ trademark a type of British cigarette
play•fel•low /'pleɪr,feləʊ/ n BrE a PLAYMATE
play·ful /'pleifəl/ adj 1 happily active; full of fun: a playful little dog 2 not intended seriously: a playful kiss on the cheek ︷ly adv ︸ness n [U]
play·go·er /'pleɪ,gəʊər/ n a person who goes to see plays, especially regularly
play·ground /ˈpleɪgraʊnd/ n 1 a piece of ground kept for children to play on, especially at a school or in a park. Playgrounds in parks usually contain SWINGS, ROUNDABOUTs and slides. → compare PLAYING FIELD 2 an area where especially the stated people go for enjoyment: The South of France is the playground of the rich. 3 AmE for RECREATION GROUND
play·group /ˈpleɪgruːp/ also pre-school playgroup, playschool n especially BrE a group in which children aged 2–5 meet to learn through playing. Playgroups started in Britain in the 1960s because the British government did not provide many schools for children this age: Robert's at playgroup today. → compare CRÈCHE, NURSERY, NURSERY SCHOOL and see also Feature on page A12
play·house /ˈpleɪhaʊs/ n pl. -houses /ˌhauːz/ 1 (often cap. as part of a name) a theatre: the Oxford Playhouse 2 a hut built to look like a small house, for children to play in
'playing card n fml for CARD
'playing field n a large piece of ground with particular areas marked out for playing such games as football and cricket
play·mate /'pleɪmert/ also playfellow BrE — n. old·fash a friend who shares in children's games and play: The little boy's chief playmate was his dog. | We were childhood playmates.
'play-off n a second match played to decide who wins, when the first has not done so → compare RUN-OFF; see also PLAY² off
,play on 'words n pl. plays on words [ usually sing.] a PUN
play·pen /ˈpleɪpen/ n a frame enclosed by bars or a net and placed on the floor for a small child to play safely in
play·room /'pleɪrʊm, -ruːm/ n a room for children to play in
play·school /'pleiskuːl/ n BrE a PLAYGROUP
Play·station /ˈpleɪˌsteɪʃən/ trademark a type of special computer made by Sony for playing games on
play·thing /'pleɪr,θɪŋ/ n 1 fml a toy 2 especially lit a person who is treated without seriousness or consideration by another: He was just her plaything. | Are we the playthings of fate? (=Are we not free to decide our own actions?)
play·time /ˈpleɪtaɪm/ n [U] a (short) period of time, especially at a school, when children can go out to play
play·wright /'pleirait/ n a writer of plays
pla·za /ˈplaːzəl/plæzə/ n 1 a public square or marketplace, especially in towns in Spanish-speaking countries 2 a group of shops and other COMMERCIAL buildings in a town: a shopping plaza
Plaza, the a common name for a cinema in the UK, especially in the past
plc /,piː el 'siː/ abbrev. for PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY: Marks & Spencer plc → compare INC, LIMITED
plea /pliː/ n 1 [C(for)] fml an urgent or serious request: a plea
for mercy/forgiveness 2 [C(of) usually sing.] law a statement by