From Middle English playen, pleyen, pleȝen, plæien, also Middle English plaȝen, plawen (> English plaw), from Old English pleġan, pleoġan, plæġan, and Old English pleġian, pleaġian, plagian ‎(to play, exercise, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *pleganą, *plehaną ‎(to care about, be concerned with) and Proto-Germanic *plegōną ‎(to engage, move); both perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *blek- ‎(to move, move about), from Proto-Indo-European *bal- (compare Ancient Greek βλύω ‎(blúō), βλύζω ‎(blúzō, I gush out, spring), Sanskrit बल्बलीति ‎(balbalīti, it whirls, twirls)). Cognate with Scots play ‎(to act or move briskly, cause to move, stir), Saterland Frisian plegia ‎(to look after, care for, maintain), West Frisian pleegje, pliigje ‎(to commit, perform, bedrive), Middle Dutch pleyen ("to dance, leap for joy, rejoice, be glad"; > Modern Dutch pleien ‎(to play a particular children's game)), Dutch plegen ‎(to commit, bedrive, practice), German pflegen ‎(to care for, be concerned with, attend to, tend), Danish pleje ‎(to tend to, nurse), Swedish pläga ‎(to be wont to, be accustomed to). Related also to Old English plēon ‎(to risk, endanger). More at plight, pledge.

The noun is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ‎(play, quick motion, movement, exercise; (athletic) sport, game; festivity, drama; battle; gear for games, an implement for a game; clapping with the hands, applause), deverbative of pleġian ‎(to play); see above.



play ‎(third-person singular simple present plays, present participle playing, simple past and past participle played)

    They played long and hard.
      A youngster [] listed some of the things his pet did not do: [] go on vacation, play in the same way that he did with his friends, and so on.
  2. (ergative) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
    1. (transitive) To compete against, in a game.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:
  4. (transitive) To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance.
  5. (heading, transitive, intransitive) To produce music or theatre.
    1. (intransitive, of a music) To produce music.
    2. (intransitive, chiefly of a person) To produce music using a musical instrument.
    3. (transitive, chiefly of a person) To produce music (or a specified song or musical style) using (a specified musical instrument).
      I'll play the piano and you sing.  Can you play an instrument?We especially like to play jazz together.Play a song for me.Do you know how to play Für Elise?My son thinks he can play music.
    4. (transitive, ergative) To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording.
      You can play the DVD now.
    5. (intransitive, of a theatrical performance) To be performed; (or of a film) to be shown.
      His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow.
    6. (transitive, of a theatrical company or band, etc.) To perform in or at; to give performances in or at.
        I got a hold of Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong's agent and I explained to him on the phone that, "I know you're playing London on Wednesday night. Why don't you come and play the Arena in Windsor on Saturday night?"
    7. (transitive) To act or perform (a play).
      to play a comedy
  6. (heading) To behave in a particular way.
    1. (copulative) Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being.
      • (Can we date this quote?) Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
        Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt.
      • 1985, Sharon S. Brehm, Intimate Relationships:
    2. (intransitive) To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.
      • (Can we date this quote?) Sir William Temple (1628–1699):
        Men are apt to play with their healths.
    3. (intransitive) To act; to behave; to practice deception.
    4. (transitive) To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute.
      to play tricks
      • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton (1608-1674):
        The Bat—they called him the Bat. []. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
  7. (intransitive) To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate.
    The fountain plays.
  8. (intransitive) To move gaily; to disport.
    • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare (1564-1616):
      even as the waving sedges play with wind
    • (Can we date this quote?) Joseph Addison (1672-1719):
    • (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope (1688-1744):
  9. (transitive) To put in action or motion.
  10. (transitive) To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
  11. (transitive) To manipulate or deceive someone.
    You played me!






play ‎(countable and uncountable, plural plays)

  1. (uncountable, formerly countable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
    • Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
      She was fond of all boys' plays, and greatly preferred cricket [] to dolls []
  2. (uncountable) Similar activity, in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
  4. The conduct, or course of a game.
  5. (countable) An individual's performance in a sport or game.
  8. (countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.
    We saw a two-act play in the theatre.
  9. (countable) A major move by a business.
  10. (countable) A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
  11. (uncountable) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely.
    Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous.
  12. (uncountable, informal) Sexual role-playing.
    • 1996, Sabrina P Ramet, Gender reversals and gender cultures
      The rarity of male domination in fantasy play is readily explained.
    • 1996, "toptigger", (on Internet newsgroup alt.personals.spanking.punishment)
      Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play
    • 2013, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Best Bondage Erotica 2014
    • 2014, Jiri T. Servant, Facts About Bondage - Bondage Guide For Beginners
  13. (countable) A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.



Derived termsEdit

See alsoEdit

Wikipedia has an article on:



Most common English words before 1923: London · save · length · #580: play · remained · bear · service



Borrowing from English play.


play m ‎(invariable)

  1. play (theatrical performance; start key)



  1. used to announce the start a game of tennis



Borrowing from English play.


play m ‎(plural plays)

  1. play (button)
Read in another language