Play in Scrabble and Meaning

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4-letter words (2 found)

3-letter words (8 found)

2-letter words (5 found)

You can make 15 words from play according to the Scrabble US and Canada dictionary.

All 4 letters words made out of play

play lpay paly aply lapy alpy plya lpya pyla ypla lypa ylpa payl apyl pyal ypal aypl yapl layp alyp lyap ylap aylp yalp

Note: these 'words' (valid or invalid) are all the permutations of the word play. These words are obtained by scrambling the letters in play.

Definitions and meaning of play

play

Etymology

From Middle English pleyen, playen, pleȝen, plæien, also Middle English plaȝen, plawen (compare English plaw), from Old English pleġan, pleoġan, plæġan, and Old English plegian, pleagian, plagian (“to play, exercise, etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *plehan (“to care about, be concerned with”) and Proto-West Germanic *plegōn (“to engage, move”); both perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *blek- (“to move, move about”), from Proto-Indo-European *bal- (compare Ancient Greek βλύω (blúō), βλύζω (blúzō, “I gush out, spring”), Sanskrit बल्बलीति (balbalīti, “it whirls, twirls”)).

The noun is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, plega, plæġa (“play, quick motion, movement, exercise; (athletic) sport, game; festivity, drama; battle; gear for games, an implement for a game; clapping with the hands, applause”), deverbative of plegian (“to play”); see above.

Pronunciation

• enPR: plā, IPA^(key): /pleɪ/, [pʰl̥eɪ̯]
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Verb

play (third-person singular simple present plays, present participle playing, simple past and past participle played)

1. (intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
   • 2003, Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont et al. (eds.), Joining Society: Social Interaction and Learning in Adolescence and Youth, Cambridge Univ. Press, p.52:

     We had to play for an hour, so that meant that we didn't have time to play and joke around.

2. (transitive, intransitive) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

   Hypernym: try

   Hyponym: replay

   1. (transitive) To compete against, in a game.

      We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.
   2. (transitive) (in the scoring of games and sports) To be the opposing score to.

      Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!

3. (intransitive) To take part in amorous activity; to make love.

   Synonyms: get it on, make out, have sex; see also Thesaurus:copulate
4. To gamble.
5. (transitive) To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance.
   • 1984, Chris Robinson, commercial for Vicks Formula 44:
6. (multiple senses, transitive, intransitive) To produce music or theatre.
   1. (intransitive, of a music) To produce music.

      Synonyms: cook, jam; see also Thesaurus:play music
   2. (intransitive, especially of a person) To produce music using a musical instrument.

   3. (transitive, especially of a person) To produce music (or a specified song or musical style) using (a specified musical instrument).

   4. (transitive, ergative) To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording.

   5. (intransitive, of a theatrical performance) To be performed; (or of a film) to be shown.

   6. (transitive, of a theatrical company or band, etc.) To perform in or at; to give performances in or at.
   7. (transitive) To act or perform (a play).

7. (multiple senses) To behave in a particular way.
   1. (copulative) Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being.
   2. (intransitive) To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.
   3. (intransitive) To act; to behave; to practice deception.
   4. (transitive) To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute.
   5. (African-American Vernacular, intransitive) To kid; to joke; say something for amusement.
8. (transitive, intransitive) To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate.
9. (intransitive) To move to and fro.
10. (transitive) To put in action or motion.

11. (transitive) To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
12. (transitive, colloquial) To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone.

    Synonym: defraud

Translations

Noun

play (countable and uncountable, plural plays)

1. (uncountable, formerly countable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
   • 1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure

     You know, when I was around 7-11 years old, my favorite play would be "boys." One of us, Bridget, Maryellen, or I, would say "Let's play boys." We all had boy names, set up the pretend surroundings, and acted like boys.

2. (uncountable) Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.

3. (uncountable) The conduct, or course, of a game.

4. (uncountable) An individual's performance in a sport or game.

5. (countable) A short sequence of action within a game.

6. (countable, turn-based games) An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.

   Synonym: move
7. (countable) A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.

   Synonyms: drama; see also Thesaurus:drama

8. (countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.

9. (countable) An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.

10. (countable) A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
11. (uncountable) Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)
12. (uncountable) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack.

13. (uncountable, informal) Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.
    • 1996, "toptigger", (on Internet newsgroup alt.personals.spanking.punishment)

      Palm Springs M seeks sane F 4 safe bdsm play
14. (countable) An instance of watching or listening to digital media.

    Synonyms: (of visual media) view, (of audio) listen
15. (countable) A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
16. (archaic, now usually in compounds) Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.

    handplay, swordplay

Translations

Derived terms

See also

• outdoor

Further reading

• play on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “play”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “play”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• paly, pyla

Chinese

Etymology

Borrowed from English play, possibly via Japanese プレイ (purei).

Pronunciation

Suffix

play

1. play (sexual roleplaying)

   羞恥play／羞耻play  ―  xiūchǐ play  ―  erotic humiliation

   女裝play／女装play  ―  nǚzhuāng play  ―  crossdressing

   各種奇怪的play／各种奇怪的play  ―  gèzhǒng qíguài de play  ―  all kinds of strange sexual roleplaying

Italian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English play.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈplɛj/, /ˈplej/
• Rhymes: -ɛj, -ej

Noun

play m (invariable)

1. play (theatrical performance; start key)

Interjection

play

1. used to announce the start a game of tennis

References

Spanish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English play.

Noun

play m (plural playes)

1. play (button)

Related terms