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"
an article of merchandise that is displayed or advertised more than other articles
the characteristic parts of a person's face: eyes and nose and mouth and chin; "an expression of pleasure crossed his features"; "his lineaments were very regular"
a prominent aspect of something; "the map showed roads and other features"; "generosity is one of his best characteristics"
a special or prominent article in a newspaper or magazine; "they ran a feature on retirement planning"
the principal (full-length) film in a program at a movie theater; "the feature tonight is `Casablanca'"
a substance similar to stucco but exclusively applied to masonry walls
cause to become; "The shot rendered her immobile"
pass down; "render a verdict"; "deliver a judgment"
coat with plastic or cement; "render the brick walls in the den"
give or supply; "The cow brings in 5 liters of milk"; "This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn"; "The estate renders some revenue for the family"
give back; "render money"
make over as a return; "They had to render the estate"
being in effect or operation; "de facto apartheid is still operational even in the `new' African nations"- Leslie Marmon Silko; "bus service is in operation during the emergency"; "the company had several operating divisions"
of or intended for or involved in military operations
pertaining to a process or series of actions for achieving a result; "operational difficulties"; "they assumed their operational positions"
a whole individual unit; especially when included in a list or collection; "they reduced the price on many items"
a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list; "he noticed an item in the New York Times"; "she had several items on her shopping list"; "the main point on the agenda was taken up first"
(used when listing or enumerating items) also; "a length of chain, item a hook"-Philip Guedalla
the property of something that is great in magnitude; "it is cheaper to buy it in bulk"; "he received a mass of correspondence"; "the volume of exports"