Noun
The play is based on a real-life event.
He wrote, directed, and starred in the play.
His fifth grade class is putting on a play about the first Thanksgiving.
I’ve gone to all of my daughter’s school plays.
The book discusses the role of play in a child’s development.
As the saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Please, no talking during play.
Rain held up play for an hour.
The chess match finally ended after three hours of play.
The two golfers were tied at the start of play yesterday.
Verb
The children were playing in the yard.
Can Sara come out and play?
He played by himself in his room.
Did you play any sports in high school?
No one dares to play chess with him.
The children were playing hide-and-seek.
I have a chess set. Do you want to play?
It’s your turn to play.
She hurt her wrist but decided to continue playing.
He played in every major tournament this year.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon Rahm was three behind through nine holes when storms suspended play.
—
Georgia News, ajc, 8 Apr. 2023
The Lakers advanced to the 2021 postseason through the play-in by beating Golden State in a 7-8 matchup at home for the seventh seed, but Phoenix beat them in the first round, 4-2, on its way to the NBA Finals.
—Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2023
For Palestinians, this aspect of the play was unmistakable.
—Sam Sacks, wsj.com, 7 Apr. 2023
In 2019, Hassenauer served as the starting center for the Birmingham Iron until the Alliance of American Football folded after eight weeks of spring play.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 7 Apr. 2023
Take Morikawa at 15/1 or better heading into Saturday’s resumption of play.
—Nick Hennion, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2023
More pace-of-play changes.
—Tyler Kepner Hilary Swift, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2023
Tournament officials immediately suspended play — for the second time that afternoon, actually — and ultimately decided to scuttle competition for the day.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2023
Allen, the No. 30 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, has an infectious style of play with his speed and above-average defense.
—Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2023
In Rabbit Hole, the first season of which is exclusively airing on Paramount+, Sutherland plays Jonathan Weir, a private corporate spy on the verge of retirement who must go on the run after he is framed for murder by a shadowy cabal.
—Philip Ellis, Men’s Health, 10 Apr. 2023
Both players could complement each other in the backcourt or play alongside Brooks, a bigger guard/forward type.
—Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Apr. 2023
Denzel Washington has also joined the cast in a role kept under wraps, while Barry Keoghan will play a character named Emperor Geta.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2023
Jake McCarthy and Corbin Carroll had been sitting there, playing a game of chess, but McKay had more important issues at hand.
—The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2023
Afterward, visitors can tour the campus, including the multipurpose room, modern classrooms, beautiful field and play area.
—Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2023
Spend your days sipping drinks from the swim-up bar, playing pickleball or tennis or pampering yourself at the spa.
—Tamara Gane, Chron, 9 Apr. 2023
The Midnights crooner first made the change during the March 31 stop of her tour at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and has continued playing the track since.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2023
Waters and her mom fell in love with the game and began playing together.
—Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 9 Apr. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘play.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Word play or wordplay[1] (also: play-on-words) is a literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. Examples of word play include puns, phonetic mix-ups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, double entendres, and telling character names (such as in the play The Importance of Being Earnest, Ernest being a given name that sounds exactly like the adjective earnest).
Word play is quite common in oral cultures as a method of reinforcing meaning. Examples of text-based (orthographic) word play are found in languages with or without alphabet-based scripts, such as homophonic puns in Mandarin Chinese.
Techniques[edit]
![[icon]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/20px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png){kind=small} |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2010) |
Some techniques often used in word play include interpreting idioms literally and creating contradictions and redundancies, as in Tom Swifties:
- «Hurry up and get to the back of the ship,» Tom said sternly.
Linguistic fossils and set phrases are often manipulated for word play, as in Wellerisms:
- «We’ll have to rehearse that,» said the undertaker as the coffin fell out of the car.
Another use of fossils is in using antonyms of unpaired words – «I was well-coiffed and sheveled,» (back-formation from «disheveled»).
Examples[edit]
This business’s sign is written in both English and Hebrew. The large character is used to make the ’N’ in Emanuel and the ‘מ’ in עמנואל. This is an example of orthographic word play.
Most writers engage in word play to some extent, but certain writers are particularly committed to, or adept at, word play as a major feature of their work . Shakespeare’s «quibbles» have made him a noted punster. Similarly, P.G. Wodehouse was hailed by The Times as a «comic genius recognized in his lifetime as a classic and an old master of farce» for his own acclaimed wordplay.[citation needed] James Joyce, author of Ulysses, is another noted word-player. For example, in his Finnegans Wake Joyce’s phrase «they were yung and easily freudened» clearly implies the more conventional «they were young and easily frightened»; however, the former also makes an apt pun on the names of two famous psychoanalysts, Jung and Freud.
An epitaph, probably unassigned to any grave, demonstrates use in rhyme.
- Here lie the bones of one ‘Bun’
- He was killed with a gun.
- His name was not ‘Bun’ but ‘Wood’
- But ‘Wood’ would not rhyme with gun
- But ‘Bun’ would.
Crossword puzzles often employ wordplay to challenge solvers. Cryptic crosswords especially are based on elaborate systems of wordplay.
An example of modern word play can be found on line 103 of Childish Gambino’s «III. Life: The Biggest Troll».
H2O plus my D, that’s my hood, I’m living in it
Rapper Milo uses a play on words in his verse on «True Nen»[2]
- Keep any heat by the fine China dinner set
- Your man’s caught the chill and it ain’t even winter yet
A farmer says, «I got soaked for nothing, stood out there in the rain bang in the middle of my land, a complete waste of time. I’ll like to kill the swine who said you can win the Nobel Prize for being out standing in your field!».
Eminem is known for the extensive wordplay in the lyrics of his music.
The Mario Party series is known for its mini-game titles that usually are puns and various plays on words; for example: «Shock, Drop, and Roll», «Gimme a Brake», and «Right Oar Left». These mini-game titles are also different depending on regional differences and take into account that specific region’s culture.
[edit]
Word play can enter common usage as neologisms.
Word play is closely related to word games; that is, games in which the point is manipulating words. See also language game for a linguist’s variation.
Word play can cause problems for translators: e.g. in the book Winnie-the-Pooh a character mistakes the word «issue» for the noise of a sneeze, a resemblance which disappears when the word «issue» is translated into another language.
See also[edit]
- Etymology
- False etymology
- Figure of speech
- List of forms of word play
- List of taxa named by anagrams
- Metaphor
- Phono-semantic matching
- Simile
- Pun
References[edit]
- ^ «wordplay: definition of wordplay in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)». Askoxford.com. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.[dead link]
- ^ Scallops hotel – True Nen, retrieved 3 December 2021
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Word play.
- A categorized taxonomy of word play composed of record-holding words
Did you hear about the blind carpenter who picked up his hammer and saw?
Вы слышали о слепом плотнике, который поднял свой молоток и прозрел (saw = увидел = пила)?
= Вы слышали о слепом плотнике, который поднял свой молоток и пилу?
Did you hear about the deaf shepherd who gathered his flock and heard (herd)?
Вы слышали о глухом пастухе, который собрал своё стадо и стал слышать?
(herd = стадо, гурт — произносится одинаково с heard = услышал)
= Вы слышали о глухом пастухе, который собрал своё стадо (и гурт)?
Q:
What letter of the alphabet is an insect?
Какая буква алфавита является насекомым?
A:
B. (bee = пчела)
Q:
What letter is a part of the head?
Какая буква является частью головы?
Q:
What letter is a drink?
Какая буква является напитком?
A:
T. (tea = чай)
Q:
What letter is a body of water?
Какая буква является водоёмом?
A:
C. (sea = море)
Q:
What letter is a vegetable?
Какая буква является овощем?
A:
P. (pea = горох)
A: Hey, man! Please call me a taxi.
Эй, человек! Пожалуйста, вызовите мне такси
(call = вызывать = называть)
= Эй, человек! Назовите меня «такси»
B: Yes, sir. You are a taxi.
Слушаюсь, сэр. Вы такси
My friend said he knew a man with a wooden leg named Smith.
So I asked him, «What was the name of his other leg?»
Мой друг сказал, что знал человека с деревянной ногой по имени Смит.
Тогда я спросил: «А как звали его другую ногу?»
Why is this funny?
Почему это смешно?
It’s funny because of the confusion between these two phrases;
«a man with a wooden leg» and «a wooden leg named Smith.»
Это смешно, потому что неясно, как понять:
«a man with a wooden leg» = человек с деревянной ногой или
«a wooden leg named Smith.» = деревянная нога по имени Смит
WORD-PLAY
Перевод и значение WORD-PLAY в английском и русском языках
_n. игра слов; каламбур
Англо-Русско-Английский словарь общей лексики, сборник из лучших словарей. English-Russian-English dictionary of general lexis, the collection of the best dictionaries. 2012
Еще значения слова и перевод WORD-PLAY с английского на русский язык в англо-русских словарях и с русского на английский язык в русско-английских словарях.
More meanings of this word and English-Russian, Russian-English translations for the word «WORD-PLAY» in dictionaries.
word-play
Word play — is a literary technique in which the nature of the words that are used become the main subject of the work. Puns, phonetic mix ups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, and telling… … Wikipedia
word|play — «WURD PLAY», noun. play of or upon words; repartee: »He is equally inventive off the stage, with a love for puns and wordplay (Maclean s) … Useful english dictionary
word-play — n [U] making jokes by using words in a clever way … Dictionary of contemporary English
word play — noun playing on words or speech sounds • Hypernyms: ↑play, ↑frolic, ↑romp, ↑gambol, ↑caper … Useful english dictionary
word play — noun A technique in which the nature of the words used become part of the subject of the work, such as puns, phonetic mix ups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, and telling… … Wiktionary
word play — see wordplay … English dictionary
word-play — pun, game of words … English contemporary dictionary
word-play — noun (U) making jokes by using words in a clever way … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
word·play — /ˈwɚdˌpleı/ noun [noncount] : playful or clever use of words Oscar Wilde was famous for his witty wordplay … Useful english dictionary
List of forms of word play — This is a list of techniques used in word play with Wikipedia articles.Technique that involve the phonetic values of words* Mondegreen: a mishearing (usually unintentional) of a phrase as a homophone or near homophone that has as a result… … Wikipedia
Play (activity) — Play is a rite and a quality of mind in engaging with one s worldview. Play may consist of amusing, pretend or imaginary interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions or interplay. The rites of play are evident throughout nature and are perceived… … Wikipedia
- Top Definitions
- Synonyms
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- More About Play
- Examples
- British
- Idioms And Phrases
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
noun
a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
a dramatic performance, as on the stage.
exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.
fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness: I said it merely in play.
a pun: On this article about encroaching grizzlies, the headline “Bear with us” is a play on the word “bear.”
the playing, action, or conduct of a game: The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play.
the manner or style of playing or of doing something: We admired his fine play throughout the game.
an act or instance of playing or of doing something: a stupid play that cost us the match.
one’s turn to play: Whose play is it?
an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver: They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play.
an enterprise or venture; deal: an oil and drilling play.
action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind: fair play;foul play.
action, activity, or operation: the play of fancy.
brisk, light, or changing movement or action: a fountain with a leaping play of water.
elusive change or movement, as of light or colors: the play of a searchlight against the night sky.
a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move.
freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism.
freedom for action, or scope for activity: full play of the mind.
attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news: The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers.
an act or instance of being broadcast: The governor’s speech got two plays on our local station.
verb (used with object)
to act the part of (a person or character) in a dramatic performance; portray: to play Lady Macbeth.
to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.) on or as if on the stage.
to act or sustain (a part) in a dramatic performance or in real life: to play the role of benefactor.
to act the part or character of in real life: to play the fool;to play God.
to give performances in, as a theatrical company does: to play the larger cities.
to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.).
to contend against in a game.
to function or perform as (a specified player) in a game or competition: He usually plays left field.
to employ (a piece of equipment, a player, etc.) in a game: I played my highest card.
to use as if in playing a game, as for one’s own advantage: He played his brothers against each other.
to stake or wager, as in a game.
to lay a wager or wagers on (something).
to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest: to play pirates.
to perform on (a musical instrument).
to perform (music) on an instrument.
to cause (a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to produce sound or pictures: Do you mind if I play the radio?Stop playing YouTube videos and get to work!
to do or perform: You shouldn’t play tricks.Compromise plays an important part in marriage.
to carry or put into operation; act upon: to play a hunch.
to cause to move or change lightly or quickly: to play colored lights on a fountain.
to operate or cause to operate, especially continuously or with repeated action: to play a hose on a fire.
to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line.
to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), especially prominently: Play the flood photos on page one.
to exploit or trade in (an investment, business opportunity, stock, etc.).
verb (used without object)
to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation.
to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously.
to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often followed by with).
to take part or engage in a game.
to take part in a game for stakes; gamble.
to conduct oneself or act in a specified way: to play fair.
to act on or as if on the stage; perform.
to perform on a musical instrument.
(of an instrument or music) to sound in performance: The strings are playing well this evening.
(of a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to give forth sound: The radio played all night.
to be performed or shown: What’s playing at the movie theater around the corner?
to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script: We hope this scene will play well.
Informal. to be accepted or effective; fare: How will the senator’s proposal play with the public?
to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism.
to move about lightly or quickly: The water of the fountain played in the air.
to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance: The lights played strangely over the faces of the actors.
to operate continuously or with repeated action.
Informal. to comply or cooperate: They wanted her to tell them what she knew about the plans, but she refused to play.
Verb Phrases
play along,
- to cooperate or concur; go along.
- to pretend to cooperate or concur.
play around, Informal.
- to behave in a playful or frivolous manner; fool around.
- to be sexually promiscuous.
- to be sexually unfaithful.
play at,
- to pretend interest in: It’s obvious that you’re just playing at fishing for my sake.
- to do something without seriousness: He is merely playing at being a student.
play back, to play (a recording, especially one newly made): Play it back and let’s hear how I sound.
play down, to treat as of little importance; minimize: He has consistently played down his own part in the successful enterprise.
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: The children could usually get what they wanted by playing one parent off against the other.
play on / upon to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of: She would never think of playing on the good nature of others.
play out,
- to evolve or progress toward a conclusion; unfold; turn out: Right now it’s too early to tell how all this will play out.
- to come or bring to an end; finish: The full consequences of the decision have yet to be played out.
- to play to the end of (something): When the camera started rolling, I knew exactly how much time I had to play out the full scene.
- to use up or be used up; exhaust or be exhausted: Mining towns quickly sprouted, and just as quickly disappeared once the coal supply played out.And when that groundwater supply is played out, then what?
- to reel or pay out, as a rope, line, etc.: By the time he reached the bottom of the cavern, his friends on the surface had played out 150 feet of rope.
play up, to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize: The schools are playing up their science programs.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Idioms about play
bring into play, to put into motion; cause to be introduced: New evidence has been brought into play in this trial.
come to play, Informal. to be disposed to play or participate in a manner reflecting a determination to win or succeed: We’re a small new business, but we came to play.
- to try to attract, especially sexually: He made a play for his friend’s girlfriend.
- to attempt to gain by impressing favorably: This ad will make a play for new consumer markets.
- exhausted; weary.
- out of fashion; hackneyed: New styles in clothing are soon played out in New York.
- used up; finished: The original tires were played out and had to be replaced.
in / out of play, in or not in the state of being played during a game: The umpire says the ball was not in play.
make a play for, Informal.
play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself.
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.
played out,
play fast and loose, to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner, especially to employ deception to gain one’s ends: to play fast and loose with someone’s affections.
play for time, to prolong something in order to gain an advantage; forestall an event or decision: Their maneuvering at the conference was obviously calculated to play for time.
play into someone’s hands, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, especially an opponent): If you lose your temper when he insults you, you will be playing right into his hands.Also play into the hands of .
play it by ear, to improvise, especially in a challenging situation when confronted by unknown factors: If you can’t come up with a plan, we’ll just have to play it by ear.
play it safe, to act cautiously; avoid risk or danger: She usually plays it safe on the red carpet, wearing simple, classic designs.Also play safe .
play up to, Informal. to attempt to impress in order to gain someone’s favor: Students who too obviously play up to their teachers are usually disliked by their classmates.
play with oneself, Informal. to masturbate.
Origin of play
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English plei(e) “merriment, sport, pleasure,” Old English plega “quick movement, play” (as in swordplay); (verb) Middle English pleyen, Old English pleg(i)an (cognate with Middle Dutch pleien “to leap for joy, dance, rejoice, be glad”)
synonym study for play
3. Play, game, sport refer to forms of diverting activity. Play is the general word for any such form of activity, often undirected, spontaneous, or random: Childhood should be a time for play. Game refers to a recreational contest, mental or physical, usually governed by set rules: a game of chess. Besides referring to an individual contest, game may refer to a pastime as a whole: Golf is a good game. If, however, the pastime is one (usually an outdoor one) depending chiefly on physical strength, though not necessarily a contest, the word sport is applied: Football is a vigorous sport.
OTHER WORDS FROM play
play·ing·ly, adverbplay·less, adjectiveplay·like, adjectivecoun·ter·play, noun
non·play·ing, adjectiveself-play·ing, adjectiveun·played, adjectiveun·play·ing, adjectivewell-played, adjective
Words nearby play
plaudit, Plauen, plausible, plausive, Plautus, play, playa, playability, playable, playact, play-action pass
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
MORE ABOUT PLAY
What is a basic definition of play?
A play is a performance that is done on a stage or in a theater. Play also means to engage in a fun activity or to emit sound or video from a media device. Play has many other senses as both a noun and a verb.
In theater, a play is a performance during which actors recite lines from a script and perform the actions of the characters. The written work that includes the dialogue and story is also called a play. A person who writes plays is known as a playwright.
Real-life examples: Famous plays include Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, and Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett.
Used in a sentence: My boyfriend and I are going to see a play tomorrow.
Play means to engage in something fun or enjoyable. A person who plays is called a player.
Real-life examples: Children play games during recess. Athletes play sports. Musicians play instruments. Gamblers play card games. Animal lovers play with their pets.
Used in a sentence: I like to play basketball with my friends after school.
Play also means to produce sound or images on a media device.
Real-life examples: A “play button” on a remote control or a YouTube video is what you press to tell a device, program, or app to begin producing sound and/or video. The play symbol usually resembles a triangle pointed to the right.
Used in a sentence: The DJ booth played great music while everybody danced.
Where does play come from?
The first records of the word play come from before 900. As a noun, it ultimately comes from the Old English plega. As a verb, it ultimately comes from the Old English plegian, which is related to the Middle Dutch pleien, meaning “to leap for joy” or “to rejoice.”
Did you know … ?
How is play used in real life?
Play is most often used to mean someone is having fun or is using a media device to entertain themselves.
I am 30 years old. I am graduating from grad school next month (knock on wood). I just had a stress dream where I ruined my high school play because I didn’t know my lines.
— the third mel in the spice girls (@shorthoneybee) November 9, 2020
I am having a hard time studying for my economics final for many reasons but the biggest thing is every time I read about monopolies I just want to play monopoly
— Molly O’Regan (@MollyORegan23) November 19, 2020
Moms love playing videos on their phone at max volume
— maya (@mayajkn) November 24, 2020
Try using play!
Which of the following words is most closely related to play?
A. fun
B. boredom
C. work
D. stress
Words related to play
comedy, drama, hit, musical, opera, performance, show, game, match, sport, action, dance, participate, do, perform, portray, present, put, set, take
How to use play in a sentence
-
You can say this verbatim because it doesn’t put his chef-feelings in play.
-
Also working in the Capitals’ favor has been an unexpected week off — the result of three games postponed because of coronavirus issues — after less than a month of play.
-
There is at least some indication that Williams might also be struggling with her very next stroke following a return hit in play.
-
So far during Big Ten play, 17 men’s basketball games have been postponed.
-
He believed his front seven could stop running plays even with the safeties backed up.
-
Have there been discussions with FX regarding an Archer movie, and how do you think that would play out?
-
Father Joel Román Salazar died in a car crash in 2013; his death was ruled an accident, but the suspicion of foul play persists.
-
He plays an aging punk rocker and I play the drummer from his old band.
-
When fathers hold and play with their children, oxytocin and prolactin kick in, priming them for bonding.
-
Ironically, the play deals with the ‘management’ of information by the Establishment.
-
I assure you, no matter how beautifully we play any piece, the minute Liszt plays it, you would scarcely recognize it!
-
But I hope at least to play to him a few times, and what is more important, to hear him play repeatedly.
-
To fill up the time till Liszt came, our hostess made us play, one after the other, beginning with the latest arrival.
-
Again the sallow fingers began to play with the book-covers, passing from one to another, but always slowly and gently.
-
Her attachment to impressionism leads this artist to many experiments in color—or, as one critic wrote, «to play with color.»
British Dictionary definitions for play
verb
to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)
(tr) to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or gameEd played Tony at chess and lost
to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team gamehe plays defence; he plays in the defence
(tr) to address oneself to (a ball) in a gameplay the ball not the man
(intr; often foll by about or around) to behave carelessly, esp in a way that is unconsciously cruel or hurtful; trifle or dally (with)to play about with a young girl’s affections
(when intr, often foll by at) to perform or act the part (of) in or as in a dramatic production; assume or simulate the role (of)to play the villain; just what are you playing at?
to act out or perform (a dramatic production)
to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place
(intr) to be receivedHow will these policies play in Middle England?
to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument)David plays the harp
to perform (on a musical instrument) as specifiedhe plays out of tune
(tr)
- to reproduce (a tune, melody, piece of music, note, etc) on an instrument
- to perform works by (a specific composer)to play Brahms
to discharge or cause to dischargehe played the water from the hose onto the garden
to operate, esp to cause (a record player, radio, etc) to emit sound or (of a record player, radio, etc) to emit (sound)he played a record; the radio was playing loudly
to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularlylights played on the scenery
(tr) stock exchange to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)
(tr) angling to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod’s flexibility
to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play
to gamble (money) on a game
play ball informal to cooperate
play fair or play fair with someone to prove oneself fair in one’s dealings
play false or play fair with someone to prove oneself unfair in one’s dealings
play for time to delay the outcome of some activity so as to gain time to one’s own advantage
play into the hands of to act directly to the advantage of (an opponent)
noun
a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama
- the performance of a dramatic composition
- (in combination)playreader
- games, exercise, or other activity undertaken for pleasure, diversion, etc, esp by children
- (in combination)playroom
- (as modifier)play dough
manner of action, conduct, or playingfair play
the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progressrain stopped play
US and Canadian a move or manoeuvre in a gamea brilliant play
the situation of a ball that is within the defined area and being played according to the rules (in the phrases in play, out of play)
a turn to playit’s my play
the act of playing for stakes; gambling
action, activity, or operationthe play of the imagination
freedom of or scope or space for movementtoo much play in the rope
light, free, or rapidly shifting motionthe play of light on the water
fun, jest, or jokingI only did it in play
call into play to bring into operation
make a play for informal
- to make an obvious attempt to gain
- to attempt to attract or seduce
Derived forms of play
playability, nounplayable, adjective
Word Origin for play
Old English plega (n), plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch pleyen
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with play
In addition to the idioms beginning with play
- play along
- play a losing game
- play around
- play at
- play a waiting game
- play back
- play ball
- play both ends against the middle
- play by ear
- play cat and mouse
- play down
- played out
- play fair
- play false
- play fast and loose
- play footsie
- play for
- play for keeps
- play for laughs
- play for time
- play games
- play hardball
- play hard to get
- play havoc
- play hide and seek
- play hooky
- play in Peoria
- play into the hands of
- play it close to one’s chest
- play it cool
- play it safe
- play musical chairs
- play off
- play on
- play one’s cards close to one’s chest
- play one’s cards right
- play one’s trump card
- play on words
- play out
- play politics
- play possum
- play safe
- play second fiddle
- play the devil with
- play the field
- play the fool
- play the game
- play the heavy
- play the market
- play to the gallery
- play up
- play upon
- play up to
- play with fire
also see:
- all work and no play
- child’s play
- devil’s advocate, play
- fair play
- foul play
- game that two can play
- grandstand play
- in play
- make a play for
- musical chairs, play
- squeeze play
- trump card, play one’s
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
- wordplay
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1 (0) каламбур
2 (n) игра слов; обмен колкостями; словесная игра
* * *
игра слов, каламбур
Новый англо-русский словарь.
2013.
Смотреть что такое «wordplay» в других словарях:
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Wordplay EP — is a two disc CD and DVD collection from Jason Mraz. The EP takes his second album Mr. A Z and couples it with live footage and refinished tracks from his first album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come . Track listing ;Disc 1 (CD) # Life Is Wonderful … Wikipedia
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Wordplay — Word play , n. A more or less subtle playing upon the meaning of words. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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wordplay — also word play, 1855; see WORD (Cf. word) + PLAY (Cf. play) (v) … Etymology dictionary
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wordplay — ► NOUN ▪ the witty exploitation of the meanings and ambiguities of words … English terms dictionary
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wordplay — [wʉrdplā΄] n. 1. subtle or clever exchange of words; repartee 2. punning or a pun … English World dictionary
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wordplay — [[t]wɜ͟ː(r)dpleɪ[/t]] also word play N UNCOUNT Wordplay involves making jokes by using the meanings of words in an amusing or clever way … English dictionary
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Wordplay (disambiguation) — Wordplay can mean: * Word play, a literary technique in which the nature of the words used themselves become part of the subject of the work (e.g. puns, spoonerisms, etc.) ** List of forms of word play, a compiled list of wordplay techniques *… … Wikipedia
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Wordplay (game show) — Wordplay was a game show which ran on NBC from December 29 1986 September 4 1987, replacing the long running soap opera Search for Tomorrow. It was hosted by Tom Kennedy (occasional celebrity guest Jamie Farr filled in for one week) and announced … Wikipedia
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Wordplay (film) — Infobox Film name = Wordplay image size = caption = Promotional movie poster for the film director = Patrick Creadon producer = Christine O Malley writer = Patrick Creadon Christine O Malley narrator = starring = music = cinematography = editing … Wikipedia
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Wordplay (album) — Infobox Album | Name = Wordplay Type = Album Artist = ApologetiX Released = December 1, 2006 Recorded = Spring Fall of 2006 Genre = Christian/Parody/Comedy Length = 1:18:25 Label = Parodudes Producer = Karl Messner Reviews = *… … Wikipedia
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Wordplay (song) — Infobox Single Name = Wordplay Artist = Jason Mraz Album = Mr. A Z A side = B side = Released = May 29, 2006 Format = CD Recorded = 2005 Genre = Pop rock, alternative rock Length = 3:06 Label = Elektra Writer = Jason Mraz Producer = Jason Mraz… … Wikipedia
Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Mrs. Felicity Borer
Score: 4.5/5
(38 votes)
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement.
What does statutory mean mean?
1 : of or relating to statutes. 2 : enacted, created, or regulated by statute a statutory age limit.
What is playing with words?
Playing with Words is a collaborative approach to play-based storytelling with students who are blind or visually impaired who have additional disabilities, including those who are autistic or deafblind.
What is the meaning of Galetine?
: a clear substance that is made by boiling animal bones or tissues and that is used in making jelly. : a food made with gelatin. See the full definition for gelatin in the English Language Learners Dictionary. gelatin. noun.
What kind of word is statutory?
What type of word is ‘statutory’? Statutory is an adjective — Word Type.
21 related questions found
Does statutory mean set by law?
Statutory Law is the term used to define written laws, usually enacted by a legislative body. Statutory laws vary from regulatory or administrative laws that are passed by executive agencies, and common law, or the law created by prior court decisions. … A bill is proposed in the legislature and voted upon.
What is meant by a statutory body?
an organization with the authority to check that the activities of a business or organization are legal and follow official rules: … an organization that has been created by a parliament: The commission is a statutory body to combat discrimination against disabled people.
Is gelatine a non veg?
Gelatin is a protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water. It is usually obtained from cows or pigs. … Gelatin is not vegan. However, there is a product called “agar agar” that is sometimes marketed as “gelatin,” but it is vegan.
What happens if we apply gelatin on face?
A gelatin face mask provides a whole ‘nother layer of cleanliness as well as other benefits including: Smoother skin — One of the jobs of the gelatin face mask is to exfoliate your skin. … Tighter skin — Exfoliating all the dirt, toxins, and dead skin cells from your face will reinvigorate the skin.
Why is gelatin used?
Gelatin is used for aging skin, osteoarthritis, weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis), brittle nails, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In manufacturing, gelatin is used for preparation of foods, cosmetics, and medicines.
What is a malapropism example?
Malaprop’s malapropism examples: “He is the very pineapple of politeness!” Pineapple?! She subbed in this fruit name for “pinnacle.” “She’s as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.” As far as we know, allegories don’t spend time around rivers—she was going for “alligator.”
How do you play around with words?
21 Ways to Play with Words
- Ambigrams. An ambigram is a word or artistic representation that can be viewed or interpreted from a different direction, perspective, or orientation. …
- Anagrams. …
- Aptronyms. …
- Backronyms. …
- Blends/portmanteau. …
- Contronyms. …
- Double entendre.
- Eggcorn.
Why is it called spoonerism?
A spoonerism is an error in speech in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched (see metathesis) between two words in a phrase. These are named after the Oxford don and ordained minister William Archibald Spooner, who reputedly did this.
What is the difference between statutory and legal?
If something is statutory, it is related to or set by laws or statutes. … You might wonder what the difference is between statutory and legal. Both are adjectives and both are concerned with the law. If something is legal, it is allowed by the law, whereas if it is statutory, it is regulated by law.
What is statutory example?
The definition of statutory is something mandated by or related to statutes, which are laws or bills passed by the legislature. An example of statutory law is the law found in the Clean Air Act, a federal statute. Enacted, regulated, or authorized by statute.
What is the purpose of a statute?
A statute is a written law passed by a legislature on the state or federal level. Statutes set forth general propositions of law that courts apply to specific situations. A statute may forbid a certain act, direct a certain act, make a declaration, or set forth governmental mechanisms to aid society.
Is gelatin harmful for face?
Gelatin is a protein product derived from collagen. It has important health benefits due to its unique combination of amino acids. Gelatin has been shown to play a role in joint health and brain function, and may improve the appearance of skin and hair.
Can I use gelatin to remove facial hair?
Gelatin sticks onto your face fast. You can apply it either on the areas where unwanted hair growth is visible or on your whole face. Never apply it very close to your eyes or eyebrows. You can remove the gelatin mask from your face after 5 minutes as it would have dried off completely by then.
Can gelatin tighten skin?
Gelatin is a dietary source of collagen and eating or drinking collagen helps to increase the body’s own collagen production. Increasing your collagen production helps to smooth out fine line facial lines and create firmer, plump skin. It’s not just your face that can benefit from taking gelatin either.
Can Muslims eat gelatin?
The major source of gelatin is pigskin and is using in processed food and medicinal products. Though the use of food products adulterated with porcine-derived gelatin create concerns in the mind of Muslim communities, as in Islam; it is not acceptable or literally, it is called Haram in Islam Religion.
Is gelatin made of pig fat?
Most gelatin is derived from pork skins, pork and cattle bones, or split cattle hides. Gelatin made from fish by-products avoids some of the religious objections to gelatin consumption.
Is yeast a non veg?
However, unlike animals, yeasts do not have a nervous system. … Since eating yeast does not cause it to suffer and involves no animal exploitation or cruelty, yeast is typically considered a vegan food. Although, a very small minority of vegans may still avoid it, as it is a living organism.
What is difference between statutory and non statutory body?
Statutory refers to organizations and bodies that are defined by a formal law or a statute. … Non-statutory is essentially another term for common law. Therefore, such bodies are formed by executive resolution or action, which means that they are formed only by the Government’s action.
What is difference between autonomous and statutory body?
Answer: A statutory body deals with enforcing legislation for a country or state. A autonomous body is a company that regulates it own company law….i hope it helps you Rate!
What is the difference between statutory body and regulatory body?
The difference between statutory and regulatory is that statutory law is passed by a higher rank government body. This could be the state government or the central government. In contrast, regulatory laws are passed by the regional government bodies that are a part of central or state government.
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PRONUNCIATION OF WORDPLAY
GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF WORDPLAY
Wordplay is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.
WHAT DOES WORDPLAY MEAN IN ENGLISH?
Word play
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique and a form of wit in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. Examples of word play include puns, phonetic mix-ups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, double entendres, and telling character names. Word play is quite common in oral cultures as a method of reinforcing meaning. Examples of visual orthographic and sound-based word play abound in both alphabetically and non-alphabetically written literature.
Definition of wordplay in the English dictionary
The definition of wordplay in the dictionary is verbal wit based on the meanings and ambiguities of words; puns, clever repartee, etc.
WORDS THAT RHYME WITH WORDPLAY
Synonyms and antonyms of wordplay in the English dictionary of synonyms
SYNONYMS OF «WORDPLAY»
The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «wordplay» and belong to the same grammatical category.
Translation of «wordplay» into 25 languages
TRANSLATION OF WORDPLAY
Find out the translation of wordplay to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of wordplay from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «wordplay» in English.
Translator English — Chinese
文字游戏
1,325 millions of speakers
Translator English — Spanish
juegos de palabras
570 millions of speakers
English
wordplay
510 millions of speakers
Translator English — Hindi
गेम
380 millions of speakers
Translator English — Arabic
التلاعب بالألفاظ
280 millions of speakers
Translator English — Russian
Игра слов
278 millions of speakers
Translator English — Portuguese
jogo de palavras
270 millions of speakers
Translator English — Bengali
wordplay
260 millions of speakers
Translator English — French
jeu de mots
220 millions of speakers
Translator English — Malay
Wordplay
190 millions of speakers
Translator English — German
Wortspiel
180 millions of speakers
Translator English — Japanese
しゃれ
130 millions of speakers
Translator English — Korean
익살
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Javanese
Wordplay
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Vietnamese
chơi chữ
80 millions of speakers
Translator English — Tamil
வார்த்தை
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Marathi
वर्डप्ले
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Turkish
kelime oyunu
70 millions of speakers
Translator English — Italian
arguzia verbale
65 millions of speakers
Translator English — Polish
gra słów
50 millions of speakers
Translator English — Ukrainian
гра слів
40 millions of speakers
Translator English — Romanian
joc de cuvinte
30 millions of speakers
Translator English — Greek
λογοπαίγνια
15 millions of speakers
Translator English — Afrikaans
Woordspel
14 millions of speakers
Translator English — Swedish
ordlekt
10 millions of speakers
Translator English — Norwegian
ordspill
5 millions of speakers
Trends of use of wordplay
TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «WORDPLAY»
The term «wordplay» is quite widely used and occupies the 40.473 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «wordplay» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of wordplay
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «wordplay».
FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «WORDPLAY» OVER TIME
The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «wordplay» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «wordplay» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.
Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about wordplay
10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «WORDPLAY»
Discover the use of wordplay in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to wordplay and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
In this book John Langdon shows us how we can expand our understanding of terms and concepts by looking at ambigrams — words designed to be read upside down, back to front, or in a mirror as well as left to right.
2
Wordplay: The Official Companion Book
With the premiere of Wordplay, a documentary about crossword puzzles, legendary New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz, and the legions of solvers who devour his creations, here’s your chance to become a part of the puzzle craze! • …
Creators of the Hit Documentary, 2006
3
Colossal Book of Wordplay
A true pioneer in the field of recreational mathematics, Martin Gardner has been wrangling words for decades, and his latest opus is nothing short of extraordinary.
These shifting data would be an uneasy foundation for any theories about
Shakespeare’s wordplay, so it is perhaps more a relief than a disappointment to
find that they show too little order to render such theories tenable. It is possible to
make …
Professor M M Mahood, 2003
5
The Dictionary of Wordplay
This marvelous reference guide should be at the side of every writer; it’s the first wordplay dictionary ever!
6
Transcendental Wordplay: America’s Romantic Punsters and the …
Interpreting Thoreau as an ironic moralist, satirist, and social critic rather than a nature-loving mystic, Transcendental Wordplay suggests that the major American Romantics shared a surprising conservatism.
7
Vocabulary & Wordplay: Mind-bending Brainteaters
The No. 1-selling kids’ almanac becomes a fun educational tool in these portable decks tailored by age and subject.
8
Wordplay: origins, meanings, and usage of the English language
Folk etymology, that charming process of word formation that substitutes a familiar sound or idea for an archaic one (‘rod-iron’ for wrought iron), has worked overtime in our fields, forests, and gardens.
9
Traductio: Essays on Punning and Translation
Authors at various times and in a multitude of languages and genres have
subjected idioms to some semantic or structural transformation for the sake of
creating wordplay. This article will consider the different variants of this rhetorical
device …
For ages 9 to 12 years. «Wordplay Cafe» is so imaginative that kids and adults will be laughing together before they even begin a word game!
10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «WORDPLAY»
Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term wordplay is used in the context of the following news items.
Wordplay | Restore Your Faith in Humanity
TUESDAY PUZZLE — Things can’t have gotten this bad for Joel Fagliano. He’s just out of college and has an impressive job working with Will Shortz. And yet … «New York Times, Aug 15»
Fiction for older children reviews – delight in wordplay, disrespect for …
Fiction for older children reviews – delight in wordplay, disrespect for authority and a touch of evil. Michael Rosen continues to question the logic of the adult … «The Guardian, Jul 15»
Wordplay | Variety: A Violent Acrostic
VARIETY PUZZLE — Today’s quote, taken from Karen ARMSTRONG’s book, “FIELDS OF BLOOD: Religion and the History of Violence,” does not have much to … «New York Times, Jun 15»
Wordplay | Excellent Mornings Guaranteed
Wordplay | Excellent Mornings Guaranteed. Advertisement. Email; Share; Tweet … Wordplay Blog. Small Price to Pay · Wordplay Blog. Statistical Achievement … «New York Times, Jun 15»
Wordplay | Hawaii’s State Bird
If you would like to find links to the blog and other puzzle news, the Wordplay account is @NYTimesWordplay. If you ever have a question for Will Shortz, his … «New York Times, Jun 15»
Wordplay | One Who Might Steal a Kiss
It’s Friday, and I look forward to some really sizzling clues with great wordplay to make up for the bashing my ego takes during the late-week solves. I wasn’t … «New York Times, Jun 15»
Wordplay | Try For a Brass Ring
WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Are you dizzy yet? Tracy Gray’s crossword turns and spins, and you may have needed to pin it down in order to solve it successfully. «New York Times, Jun 15»
Wu-Tang and wordplay: have hip-hop lyrics really lost their edge?
The genre was famed for metaphor-loaded rhymes, but figures such as GZA say it’s reached a nadir. Is it just a case of good old-fashioned New York snobbery? «The Guardian, Jun 15»
Wordplay | Cogito Ergo Sum
MONDAY PUZZLE — Confession: One of my favorite cuisines is Korean — I was introduced to it a while back when I was studying a Korean martial art — and I … «New York Times, May 15»
Wordplay | Variety: A Trained Acrostic
VARIETY PUZZLE — Unlike the New York City subway system, this acrostic by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon showed up on time, was incredibly clean and did … «New York Times, May 15»
REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Wordplay [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/wordplay>. Apr 2023 ».
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Meaning word play
What does word play mean? Here you find 2 meanings of the word word play. You can also add a definition of word play yourself
1 |
0 Experimenting with and manipulating language (often in humour), usually for entertaining effect, for example spoonerisms, double meanings, puns.
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2 |
0 word playword|play|lang=en A technique in which the nature of the words used become part of the subject of the work, such as puns, phonetic mix-ups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever r [..]
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