| 1. | a spherical or approximately spherical body or shape; sphere: He rolled the piece of paper into a ball. |
| 2. | a round or roundish body, of various sizes and materials, either hollow or solid, for use in games, as baseball, football, tennis, or golf. |
| 3. | a game played with a ball, esp. baseball: The boys are out playing ball. |
| 4. | Baseball. a pitched ball, not swung at by the batter, that does not pass over home plate between the batter's shoulders and knees. |
| 5. | Military.
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| 6. | any part of a thing, esp. of the human body, that is rounded or protuberant: the ball of the thumb. |
| 7. | a round mass of food, as of chopped meat, dough, or candy. |
| 8. | Slang: Vulgar. a testis. |
| 9. | balls, Slang: Vulgar.
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| 10. | bolus (def. 1). |
| 11. | Horticulture. a compact mass of soil covering the roots of an uprooted tree or other plant. |
| 12. | Literary. a planetary or celestial body, esp. the earth. |
| 13. | Mathematics. (in a metric space) the set of points whose distance from the zero element is less than, or less than or equal to, a specified number. |
| 14. | to make into a ball (sometimes fol. by up): The children were balling up snow to make a snowman. |
| 15. | to wind into balls: to ball cotton. |
| 16. | Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with. |
| 17. | to form or gather into a ball: When the spun sugar balls, the candy has cooked sufficiently. |
| 18. | Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse. |
| 19. | ball up, Slang. to make or become utterly confused; muddle: The records had been all balled up by inefficient file clerks. |
| 20. | ball the jack, Slang.
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| 21. | carry the ball, to assume the responsibility; bear the burden: You can always count on him to carry the ball in an emergency. |
| 22. | drop the ball, to make a mistake or miss an opportunity at a critical moment. |
| 23. | keep the ball rolling, to continue or give renewed vigor to an activity already under way: When their interest lagged, he tried to keep the ball rolling. |
| 24. | on the ball,
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| 25. | play ball,
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| 26. | run with the ball, to assume responsibility or work enthusiastically: If management approves the concept, we'll run with the ball. |
| 27. | start the ball rolling, to put into operation; begin: The recreation director started the ball rolling by having all the participants introduce themselves. |

| 1. | a dramatic composition or piece; drama. |
| 2. | a dramatic performance, as on the stage. |
| 3. | exercise or activity for amusement or recreation. |
| 4. | fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness: I said it merely in play. |
| 5. | a pun. |
| 6. | the playing, action, or conduct of a game: The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play. |
| 7. | the manner or style of playing or of doing something: We admired his fine play throughout the game. |
| 8. | an act or instance of playing or of doing something: a stupid play that cost us the match. |
| 9. | one's turn to play: Whose play is it? |
| 10. | a playing for stakes; gambling. |
| 11. | an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver: They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play. |
| 12. | an enterprise or venture; deal: an oil and drilling play. |
| 13. | action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind: fair play; foul play. |
| 14. | action, activity, or operation: the play of fancy. |
| 15. | brisk, light, or changing movement or action: a fountain with a leaping play of water. |
| 16. | elusive change or movement, as of light or colors: the play of a searchlight against the night sky. |
| 17. | a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move. |
| 18. | freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism. |
| 19. | freedom for action, or scope for activity: full play of the mind. |
| 20. | attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news: The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers. |
| 21. | an act or instance of being broadcast: The governor's speech got two plays on our local station. |
| 22. | to act the part of (a person or character) in a dramatic performance; portray: to play Lady Macbeth. |
| 23. | to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.) on or as if on the stage. |
| 24. | to act or sustain (a part) in a dramatic performance or in real life: to play the role of benefactor. |
| 25. | to act the part or character of in real life: to play the fool; to play God. |
| 26. | to give performances in, as a theatrical company does: to play the larger cities. |
| 27. | to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.). |
| 28. | to contend against in a game. |
| 29. | to function or perform as (a specified player) in a game or competition: He usually plays left end. |
| 30. | to employ (a piece of equipment, a player, etc.) in a game: I played my highest card. |
| 31. | to use as if in playing a game, as for one's own advantage: He played his brothers against each other. |
| 32. | to stake or wager, as in a game. |
| 33. | to lay a wager or wagers on (something). |
| 34. | to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest: to play cowboys and Indians. |
| 35. | to perform on (a musical instrument). |
| 36. | to perform (music) on an instrument. |
| 37. | to cause (a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to produce sound or pictures: to play a tape; to play the radio. |
| 38. | to do or perform: You shouldn't play tricks. Compromise plays an important part in marriage. |
| 39. | to carry or put into operation; act upon: to play a hunch. |
| 40. | to cause to move or change lightly or quickly: to play colored lights on a fountain. |
| 41. | to operate or cause to operate, esp. continuously or with repeated action: to play a hose on a fire. |
| 42. | to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line. |
| 43. | to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), esp. prominently: Play the flood photos on page one. |
| 44. | to exploit or trade in (an investment, business opportunity, stock, etc.). |
| 45. | to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation. |
| 46. | to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously. |
| 47. | to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often fol. by with). |
| 48. | to take part or engage in a game. |
| 49. | to take part in a game for stakes; gamble. |
| 50. | to conduct oneself or act in a specified way: to play fair. |
| 51. | to act on or as if on the stage; perform. |
| 52. | to perform on a musical instrument. |
| 53. | (of an instrument or music) to sound in performance: The strings are playing well this evening. |
| 54. | (of a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to give forth sound: The radio played all night. |
| 55. | to be performed or shown: What's playing at the movie theater around the corner? |
| 56. | to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script: We hope this scene will play well. |
| 57. | Informal. to be accepted or effective; fare: How will the senator's proposal play with the public? |
| 58. | to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism. |
| 59. | to move about lightly or quickly: The water of the fountain played in the air. |
| 60. | to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance: The lights played strangely over the faces of the actors. |
| 61. | to operate continuously or with repeated action. |
| 62. | Informal. to comply or cooperate: They wanted her to tell them what she knew about the plans, but she refused to play. |
| 63. | play along,
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| 64. | play around, Informal.
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| 65. | play at,
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| 66. | play back, to play (a recording, esp. one newly made): Play it back and let's hear how I sound. |
| 67. | play down, to treat as of little importance; belittle: He has consistently played down his own part in the successful enterprise. |
| 68. | play off,
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| 69. | play on or upon, to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of: She would never think of playing on the good nature of others. |
| 70. | play out,
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| 71. | play up, to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize: The schools are playing up their science programs. |
| 72. | bring into play, to put into motion; cause to be introduced: New evidence has been brought into play in this trial. |
| 73. | come to play, Informal. to be disposed to play or participate in a manner reflecting a determination to win or succeed: We're a small new business, but we came to play. |
| 74. | in or out of play, in or not in the state of being played during a game: The umpire says the ball was not in play. |
| 75. | make a play for, Informal.
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| 76. | play ball. ball 1 (def. 23). |
| 77. | play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself. |
| 78. | play by ear, to play (music or a musical instrument) without printed music, as by memory of what one has heard or by unschooled musical instinct. |
| 79. | played out,
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| 80. | play fast and loose, to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner, esp. to employ deception to gain one's ends: to play fast and loose with someone's affections. |
| 81. | play for time, to prolong something in order to gain an advantage; forestall an event or decision: Their maneuvering at the conference was obviously calculated to play for time. |
| 82. | play hardball. hardball (def. 4). |
| 83. | play into the hands of, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, esp. an opponent): If you lose your temper when he insults you, you will be playing right into his hands. Also, play into (someone's) hands. |
| 84. | play it by ear, to improvise, esp. in a challenging situation when confronted by unknown factors: If you can't come up with a plan, we'll just have to play it by ear. |
| 85. | play one's cards. card 1 (def. 21). |
| 86. | play politics. politics (def. 8). |
| 87. | play possum. possum (def. 3). |
| 88. | play second fiddle. second fiddle (def. 1). |
| 89. | play the field. field (def. 39). |
| 90. | play the game. game 1 (def. 23). |
| 91. | play up to, Informal. to attempt to impress in order to gain someone's favor: Students who too obviously play up to their teachers are usually disliked by their classmates. |
| 92. | play with a full deck. deck (def. 23). |
| 93. | play with fire. fire (def. 54). |
| 94. | play with oneself, Informal. to masturbate. |

play (plā) v. played, play·ing, plays v. intr.
play along Informal To cooperate or pretend to cooperate: decided to play along with the robbers for a while. play aroundTo philander. play at
play downTo minimize the importance of; make little of: played down the defect to protect the troops' morale. play off
play outTo use up; exhaust: Our strength was played out early in the contest. play upTo emphasize or publicize: She played up her experience during the job interview. Idiom(s): in play
Idiom(s): out of play Sports Not in a position to be legally or feasibly played. Idiom(s): play ball Slang To cooperate: The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us. Idiom(s): play both ends against the middleTo set opposing parties or interests against one another so as to advance one's own goals. Idiom(s): play fast and looseTo behave in a recklessly irresponsible or deceitful manner: played fast and loose with the facts. Idiom(s): play for timeTo use delaying tactics; temporize. Idiom(s): play games Slang To be evasive or deceptive: Quit playing games and tell me what you want. Idiom(s): play hard to getTo pretend to be inaccessible or uninterested, as when flirting. Idiom(s): play in Peoria Slang To be acceptable to average constituents or consumers. Idiom(s): play into the hands ofTo act or behave so as to give an advantage to (an opponent). Idiom(s): play (one's) cards Informal To use the resources or strategies at one's disposal: played her cards right and got promoted. Idiom(s): play possumTo pretend to be sleeping or dead. Idiom(s): play the fieldTo date more than one person. Idiom(s): play the game Informal To behave according to the accepted customs or standards. Idiom(s): play up toTo curry favor with. Idiom(s): play with a full deck Slang To be of sound mind: didn't seem to be playing with a full deck. Idiom(s): play with fireTo take part in a dangerous or risky undertaking. Idiom(s): play with (oneself) Vulgar Slang To masturbate. [Middle English playen, from Old English plegian; see dlegh- in Indo-European roots.] play'a·bil'i·ty n., play'a·ble adj. |
ball
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play
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play ball (with (so))
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ball (bôl)
n.
A spherical object or mass.
A bezoar.
A large pill or bolus.
play ball
Cooperate, as in The opposing attorneys refused to play ball with us. [Slang; c. 1900]
Get going, start, as in It's time to get a move on; let's play ball. This usage comes from the baseball umpire's call to start a game. [Slang; late 1800s]