play
- noun
- /pleɪ/
- A lot of quality play from R.J. Evans and Niels Giffey, too.
Examples
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In essence, Littleton's (1991) play episode involving children sword fighting would have gone undocumented in Young's study.
Academic text (2015) -
During the sword fight, his every play demonstrated skill and agility that impressed the audience.
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His play in the third round was beautiful to watch.
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I wish you could see my magnificent net play.
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I was not happy with Smith's play at all last night.
Blog text (26) -
The knight's bold play in the duel captivated everyone watching the exhibition of martial prowess.
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In combat training, each play executed by the students showcased their growing confidence with the sword.
Synonyms
A sport in which people use light swords to score points
To fight with swords in a skilled, energetic way
Ability to fight well with a sword, as in fencing
Idioms
- Informal
Act in a careless way by ignoring rules and other people's feelings
Not part of the game, for example when the ball or a player leaves the playing area
- Offensive
To pretend to be treated unfairly to get sympathy or avoid blame
- Literature
To mention someone's gender to gain an advantage in a discussion
- Informal
To put a lot of effort into work and enjoy free time actively
- Slang
Tell someone angrily to do something dangerous to stop them complaining
Compounds
Honest behavior that treats everyone the same and follows the rules in sport or competition
- Literature
A play where characters are good or bad qualities to teach right and wrong
- Specialized
Works as soon as you connect or install it without needing any setup
A golf contest where each hole is a separate game and the player who wins more holes wins the contest
- Specialized
A play in American football where a player throws the ball forward to a teammate
- Jargon
A baseball or softball play when the defending team gets three players out in one action
- Jargon
A football play where the quarterback fakes a pass then hands the ball to a running back
- Jargon
The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties
A planned move in American football by the team with the ball to move it or score
- Literature
A play from the Middle Ages that tells Bible stories, often about Jesus, performed for people
A group performance where actors read a play aloud without full sets or learning lines
- Jargon
A baseball play where a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts
- Specialized
A play where a runner must advance and a fielder with the ball touches the base first
- Jargon
A baseball play where a runner on third base waits for a bunt then runs home to avoid being out
- Literature
A short ancient Greek play mixing serious drama with rude comedy and actors dressed as half-man, half-goat creatures
- Jargon
A risky baseball play where the runner on third base runs home while the batter bunts
- Jargon
A play that lets a defender pass the start line then blocks them to open a gap for the runner
How Skillful
Surface Forms
Etymology
Play comes from the old English plega, which meant active movement, and that is why 'play' can mean skillful movement with a sword or weapon, like a lively display of blade work.