to engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.-to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.-to contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.-to perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.-to act; to behave; to practice deception.-to move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.-to move gayly; to wanton; to disport.-to act on the stage; to personate a character.-to put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.-to perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.-to perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.-to bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.-to act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play king lear; to play the woman.-to engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball.-to keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.-amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.-any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.-the act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play.-action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit.-a dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.-the representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.-performance on an instrument of music.-motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action.-hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth.