Definitions for plays

• Definition
• Anagrams (63)

plays play

Spelling: [pley]

IPA: /pleɪ/

Plays is a 5 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 10 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 11 points.

You can make 63 anagrams from letters in plays (alpsy).

Definitions for plays

noun

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:
5. a pun.
6. the playing, action, or conduct of a game:
7. the manner or style of playing or of doing something:
8. an act or instance of playing or of doing something:
9. one's turn to play:
10. a playing for stakes; gambling.
11. an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver:
12. an enterprise or venture; deal:
13. action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind:
14. action, activity, or operation:
15. brisk, light, or changing movement or action:
16. elusive change or movement, as of light or colors:
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:
20. attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news:
21. an act or instance of being broadcast:

Idioms

1. bring into play, to put into motion; cause to be introduced:
2. come to play, Informal. to be disposed to play or participate in a manner reflecting a determination to win or succeed:
3. in / out of play, in or not in the state of being played during a game:
4. make a play for, Informal. to try to attract, especially sexually: to attempt to gain by impressing favorably:
5. play ball. ball1 (def 25).
6. play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself.
7. 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.
8. played out, exhausted; weary. out of fashion; hackneyed: used up; finished:
9. play fast and loose, to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner, especially to employ deception to gain one's ends:
10. play for time, to prolong something in order to gain an advantage; forestall an event or decision:
11. play hardball. hardball (def 4).
12. play into the hands of, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, especially an opponent): Also, play into (someone's) hands.
13. play it by ear, to improvise, especially in a challenging situation when confronted by unknown factors:
14. play it safe, to act cautiously; avoid risk or danger: Also, play safe.
15. play one's cards. card1 (def 22).
16. play politics. politics (def 8).
17. play possum. possum (def 3).
18. play second fiddle. second fiddle (def 1).
19. play the field. field (def 39).
20. play the game. game1 (def 27).
21. play up to, Informal. to attempt to impress in order to gain someone's favor:
22. play with a full deck. deck (def 23).
23. play with fire. fire (def 54).
24. play with oneself, Informal. to masturbate.

Verb phrases

1. play along, to cooperate or concur; go along. to pretend to cooperate or concur.
2. play around, Informal. to behave in a playful or frivolous manner; fool around. to be sexually promiscuous. to be sexually unfaithful.
3. play at, to pretend interest in: to do something without seriousness:
4. play back, to play (a recording, especially one newly made):
5. play down, to treat as of little importance; belittle:
6. play off, Sports. to play an extra game or round in order to settle a tie. Sports. to engage in an elimination game or games after the regular season is over in order to determine the champion. to set (one person or thing) against another, usually for one's own gain or advantage:
7. play on/upon, to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of:
8. play out, to bring to an end; finish. to use up; exhaust: to reel or pay out, as a rope, line, etc.
9. play up, to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize:

verb (used with object)

1. to act the part of (a person or character) in a dramatic performance; portray:
2. to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.) on or as if on the stage.
3. to act or sustain (a part) in a dramatic performance or in real life:
4. to act the part or character of in real life:
5. to give performances in, as a theatrical company does:
6. to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.).
7. to contend against in a game.
8. to function or perform as (a specified player) in a game or competition:
9. to employ (a piece of equipment, a player, etc.) in a game:
10. to use as if in playing a game, as for one's own advantage:
11. to stake or wager, as in a game.
12. to lay a wager or wagers on (something).
13. to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest:
14. to perform on (a musical instrument).
15. to perform (music) on an instrument.
16. to cause (a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to produce sound or pictures:
17. to do or perform:
18. to carry or put into operation; act upon:
19. to cause to move or change lightly or quickly:
20. to operate or cause to operate, especially continuously or with repeated action:
21. to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line.
22. to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), especially prominently:
23. to exploit or trade in (an investment, business opportunity, stock, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation.
2. to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously.
3. to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often followed by with).
4. to take part or engage in a game.
5. to take part in a game for stakes; gamble.
6. to conduct oneself or act in a specified way:
7. to act on or as if on the stage; perform.
8. to perform on a musical instrument.
9. (of an instrument or music) to sound in performance:
10. (of a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to give forth sound:
11. to be performed or shown:
12. to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script:
13. Informal. to be accepted or effective; fare:
14. to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism.
15. to move about lightly or quickly:
16. to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance:
17. to operate continuously or with repeated action.
18. Informal. to comply or cooperate:

Origin of plays

before 900; (noun) Middle English pleye, Old English plega; (v.) Middle English pleyen, Old English pleg(i)an (cognate with Middle Dutch pleien to leap for joy, dance, rejoice, be glad)

Examples for plays

From the looks of it, mistletoe is a keystone species and plays a crucial role in that forest ecosystem.

So with Woody, his first 3-5 films will be your favorites, or your first 3-5 Sam Shepard plays will be your favorites.

But for the real Mark Schultz, whom Tatum plays in the film Foxcatcher, it has become a sore point.

The dissimilarity of the plays only accentuates the likeness of the two protagonists.

Unlike the characters he plays, men who came from nowhere and, as he himself puts it, “go home to nobody.”

He plays an aging punk rocker and I play the drummer from his old band.

Now, the first question is: Can we find this "dark lady" of the sonnets in the plays?

It is Lady Macbeth who plays this part; she tells Macbeth to "get some water,"

Let us first see how far the story told in the sonnets is borne out by the plays.

In the next scene Richard meets his foes, and at first plays the king.