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Definition of play games - 3 dictionary results
Guitar Hero - Smash Hits
 Play your favorite songs now w/ the full band! - Watch the trailer.
 GuitarHero.com/Smash-Hits
Prototype Video Game
 Play as a Mutant with a Range of Weapons to Destroy Your Enemies.
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game

1  [geym] noun, adjective, gam⋅er, gam⋅est, verb, gamed, gam⋅ing.
Use play games in a Sentence
–noun
1. an amusement or pastime: children's games.
2. the material or equipment used in playing certain games: a store selling toys and games.
3. a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators.
4. a single occasion of such an activity, or a definite portion of one: the final game of the season; a rubber of three games at bridge.
5. the number of points required to win a game.
6. the score at a particular stage in a game: With five minutes to play, the game was 7 to 0.
7. a particular manner or style of playing a game: Her game of chess is improving.
8. anything resembling a game, as in requiring skill, endurance, or adherence to rules: the game of diplomacy.
9. a trick or strategy: to see through someone's game.
10. fun; sport of any kind; joke: That's about enough of your games.
11. wild animals, including birds and fishes, such as are hunted for food or taken for sport or profit.
12. the flesh of such wild animals or other game, used as food: a dish of game.
13. any object of pursuit, attack, abuse, etc.: The new boy at school seemed to be fair game for practical jokers.
14. Informal. a business or profession: He's in the real-estate game.
15. Archaic. fighting spirit; pluck.
–adjective
16. pertaining to or composed of animals hunted or taken as game or to their flesh.
17. having a fighting spirit; plucky.
18. Informal. having the required spirit or will (often fol. by for or an infinitive): Who's game for a hike through the woods?
–verb (used without object)
19. to play games of chance for stakes; gamble.
–verb (used with object)
20. to squander in gaming (usually fol. by away).
—Idioms
21. die game,
a. to die after a brave struggle.
b. to remain steadfast or in good spirits at the moment of defeat: He knew that as a candidate he didn't have a chance in the world, but he campaigned anyway and died game.
22. make game of, to make fun of; ridicule: to make game of the weak and defenseless.
23. play games, to act in an evasive, deceitful, manipulative, or trifling manner in dealing with others: Don't play games with me—I want to know if you love me or not!
24. play the game, Informal.
a. to act or play in accordance with the rules.
b. to act honorably or justly: We naively assumed that our allies would continue to play the game.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME gamen, OE gaman; c. OHG gaman glee

Related forms:
gameless, adjective
gamelike, adjective
gameness, noun

Synonyms:
3. sport, contest, competition. 9. scheme, artifice, stratagem, plan, plot, venture. 11, 13. prey, quarry. 17. brave, bold, intrepid, dauntless, fearless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To play games
Guitar Hero - Smash Hits
 Play your favorite songs now w/ the full band! - Watch the trailer.
 GuitarHero.com/Smash-Hits
Prototype Video Game
 Play as a Mutant with a Range of Weapons to Destroy Your Enemies.
 PrototypeGame.com
play   (plā)   
v.   played, play·ing, plays

v.   intr.
  1. To occupy oneself in amusement, sport, or other recreation: children playing with toys.
    1. To take part in a game: No minors are eligible to play.
    2. To participate in betting; gamble.
    3. To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.
    4. To emit sound or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.
  3. To act in jest or sport: They're not arguing in earnest, they're just playing.
  4. To deal or behave carelessly or indifferently; toy. See Synonyms at flirt.
  5. To behave or converse sportively or playfully.
  6. To act or conduct oneself in a specified way: play fair; an investor who plays cautiously.
  7. To act, especially in a dramatic production.
  8. Music
    1. To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.
    2. To emit sound or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.
  9. To be performed, as in a theater or on television: A good movie is playing tonight.
  10. To be received or accepted: a speech that played poorly with the voters.
  11. To move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly: The breeze played on the water.
  12. To function or discharge uninterruptedly: The fountains played in the courtyard.
  13. To move or operate freely within a bounded space, as machine parts do.
v.   tr.
    1. To perform or act (a role or part) in a dramatic performance.
    2. To assume the role of; act as: played the peacemaker at the meeting.
    3. To engage in (a game or sport): play hockey; play chess.
    4. To compete against in a game or sport.
    5. To occupy or work at (a position) in a game: Lou Gehrig played first base.
    6. To employ (a player) in a game or position: Let's play her at first base.
    7. To use or move (a card or piece) in a game: play the ace of clubs
    8. To hit (a ball, shot, or stroke), as in tennis: played a strong backhand.
    9. To attempt to keep or gain possession or control of: No foul was called because he was playing the ball.
    10. To bet; wager: played ten dollars on the horse.
    11. To make bets on: play the races.
    12. To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.
    13. To perform (a piece) on instruments or an instrument.
  2. To perform (a theatrical work) on or as if on the stage.
  3. To present a theatrical performance in (a given place): The company played Detroit last week.
  4. To pretend to be; mimic the activities of: played cowboy; played the star.
    1. To engage in (a game or sport): play hockey; play chess.
    2. To compete against in a game or sport.
    3. To occupy or work at (a position) in a game: Lou Gehrig played first base.
    4. To employ (a player) in a game or position: Let's play her at first base.
    5. To use or move (a card or piece) in a game: play the ace of clubs
    6. To hit (a ball, shot, or stroke), as in tennis: played a strong backhand.
    7. To attempt to keep or gain possession or control of: No foul was called because he was playing the ball.
    8. To bet; wager: played ten dollars on the horse.
    9. To make bets on: play the races.
    10. To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.
    11. To perform (a piece) on instruments or an instrument.
    1. To bet; wager: played ten dollars on the horse.
    2. To make bets on: play the races.
    3. To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.
    4. To perform (a piece) on instruments or an instrument.
  7. To perform or put into effect, especially as a jest or deception: play a joke on a friend.
  8. To handle; manage: played the matter quietly.
  9. To use or manipulate, especially for one's own interests: played his opponents against each other.
  10. Music
    1. To perform on (an instrument): play the guitar.
    2. To perform (a piece) on instruments or an instrument.
  11. To cause (a compact disk or audiocassette, for example) to emit recorded sounds.
  12. To discharge or direct in or as if in a continuous stream: play a hose on a fire.
  13. To cause to move rapidly, lightly, or irregularly: play lights over the dance floor.
  14. To exhaust (a hooked fish) by allowing it to pull on the line.
n.  
    1. A literary work written for performance on the stage; a drama.
    2. The performance of such a work.
    3. The act or manner of engaging in a game or sport: After a time-out, play resumed. The golf tournament featured expert play.
    4. The act or manner of using a card, piece, or ball in a game or sport: my partner's play of the last trump; his clumsy play of the rebound.
    5. A move or an action in a game: It's your play. The runner was thrown out in a close play.
    6. Action, motion, or use: the play of the imagination.
    7. Freedom or occasion for action; scope: give full play to an artist's talents. See Synonyms at room.
    8. To establish the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.
    9. To participate in a playoff.
  2. Activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation.
  3. Fun or jesting: It was all done in play.
    1. The act or manner of engaging in a game or sport: After a time-out, play resumed. The golf tournament featured expert play.
    2. The act or manner of using a card, piece, or ball in a game or sport: my partner's play of the last trump; his clumsy play of the rebound.
    3. A move or an action in a game: It's your play. The runner was thrown out in a close play.
    4. Action, motion, or use: the play of the imagination.
    5. Freedom or occasion for action; scope: give full play to an artist's talents. See Synonyms at room.
    6. To establish the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.
    7. To participate in a playoff.
  5. Participation in betting; gambling.
  6. Manner of dealing with others; conduct: fair play.
  7. An attempt to obtain something; a bid: a play for sympathy.
    1. Action, motion, or use: the play of the imagination.
    2. Freedom or occasion for action; scope: give full play to an artist's talents. See Synonyms at room.
    3. To establish the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.
    4. To participate in a playoff.
  9. Movement or space for movement, as of mechanical parts.
  10. Quick, often irregular movement or action, especially of light or color: the play of color on iridescent feathers.
  11. To participate in; engage in.
  12. To do or take part in halfheartedly.
  13. Sports
    1. To establish the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.
    2. To participate in a playoff.
  14. To set (one individual or party) in opposition to another so as to advance one's own interests: a parent who played off one child against another.
Phrasal Verb(s):
play along Informal To cooperate or pretend to cooperate: decided to play along with the robbers for a while.
play aroundTo philander.
play at
  1. To participate in; engage in.
  2. To do or take part in halfheartedly.
play backTo replay (a recently recorded tape, for example).
play downTo minimize the importance of; make little of: played down the defect to protect the troops' morale.
play off
  1. Sports
    1. To establish the winner of (a tie) by playing in an additional game or series of games.
    2. To participate in a playoff.
  2. To set (one individual or party) in opposition to another so as to advance one's own interests: a parent who played off one child against another.
play on/uponTo take advantage of (another's attitudes or feelings) for one's own interests: demagogues who play on popular fears.
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
  1. Sports In a position to be legally or feasibly played: The ball is now in play.
  2. In a position, or rumored to be in a position of possible corporate takeover: The company's stock rose in price when it was said to be 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

play games

Be evasive or deceptive, as in Don't play games with meI want an honest answer. Also see play the game.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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