something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
a minor match preceding the main event
designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding; "a preliminary investigation"
the act or process of drawing up plans or layouts for some project or enterprise
an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action; "the planning was more fun than the trip itself"
the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening; "his planning for retirement was hindered by several uncertainties"
the act of constructing something (as a piece of machinery)
the act of making something (a product) from raw materials; "the synthesis and fabrication of single crystals"; "an improvement in the manufacture of explosives"; "manufacturing is vital to Great Britain"
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice"
the occupants of a building; "the entire building complained about the noise"
a formal public statement; "the government made an announcement about changes in the drug war"; "a declaration of independence"
a public statement about something that is happening or going to happen; "the announcement appeared in the local newspaper"; "the promulgation was written in English"
the profession or art of a writer; "her place in literature is secure"
the humanistic study of a body of literature; "he took a course in Russian lit"
creative writing of recognized artistic value
published writings in a particular style on a particular subject; "the technical literature"; "one aspect of Waterloo has not yet been treated in the literature"
care by procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury
the management of someone or something; "the handling of prisoners"; "the treatment of water sewage"; "the right to equal treatment in the criminal justice system"
a manner of dealing with something artistically; "his treatment of space borrows from Italian architecture"
the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly"
a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"
engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"
exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"
participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
use or move; "I had to play my queen"
shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"
make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"
discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
be performed; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
cause to emit recorded sounds; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "Can you play my favorite record?"
emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"
cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"
engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way; "This speech didn't play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"