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play

play

3 8.8
Skillful movement of a sword in fight or display
  • noun
  • /pleɪ/
translation icon : destreza con la espada
  • A lot of quality play from R.J. Evans and Niels Giffey, too.

Examples

  • 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.

  • His play in the third round was beautiful to watch.

  • I wish you could see my magnificent net play.

  • 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.

  • In combat training, each play executed by the students showcased their growing confidence with the sword.

Synonyms

fencing
vsplay
26 3.4

A sport in which people use light swords to score points

is the broader action of skillful, vigorous blade use beyond sport or rules
swordplay
vsplay
5 6.1

To fight with swords in a skilled, energetic way

is the same meaning but in a single compound noun form
swordsmanship
vsplay
3 8.0

Ability to fight well with a sword, as in fencing

is the general action of skillful, vigorous blade use in combat or display

Idioms

To take part in a contest or activity by following the rules

to play God
  • Informal
34 8.5

To act as if you have the right to decide other people's lives

31 4.7

Being a factor that affects a situation

22 5.8

To take a big risk that can cause harm

Decide what to do as things happen rather than plan ahead

10 7.8

To bring up race or accuse someone of racism to get support

to play chicken
  • Informal
9 8.8

Act dangerously to see who gives up first

Treat someone as stupid to trick or cheat them

to play the fool
  • Informal
7 4.6

Act in a silly way to make others laugh or avoid being serious

6 8.0

Act in a careless way by ignoring rules and other people's feelings

To have an important effect on how something happens

to play possum
  • Informal
5 8.4

Pretend to be dead or asleep to avoid danger

5 3.2

To work well with other people in a team

3 3.3

Not part of the game, for example when the ball or a player leaves the playing area

1 9.1

To reach and please ordinary people in small American towns

1 8.5

To pretend to be treated unfairly to get sympathy or avoid blame

1 7.3

To lead a group or activity as the most important person

1 9.9

Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious

1 8.0

To mention someone's gender to gain an advantage in a discussion

Use clever or dishonest moves to get an advantage

To accept what you cannot change and make the best of it

To put a lot of effort into work and enjoy free time actively

A score by a team while the other team controls the game

To show all your plans and what you can do

9.0

To trick someone easily so you can get what you want

To get involved in other people's arguments or problems

Tell someone angrily to do something dangerous to stop them complaining

Use a chance as much as possible to get the most from it

Taking silly risks leads to bad results

Act in a clever, tricky way to fool others

To focus on the issue, not on the person

Act in a silly way like a clown to make people laugh

to play the whiner
  • Offensive
8.7

Act like a person who complains a lot to get sympathy

9.9

To claim someone was raped to get sympathy or advantage

Pretend to be ill to avoid going to work or school

To think clearly and act normally

A lifestyle of very hard work followed by active free time

Compounds

46 5.3

An illegal, violent, or dishonest action that suggests a crime

16 3.0

Honest behavior that treats everyone the same and follows the rules in sport or competition

double play
  • Jargon
14 3.0

A baseball play that gets two players out in one move

14 3.3

An activity where people pretend to be someone else to practice real situations

power play
  • Jargon
8 4.3

A time in hockey when one team has more players because of penalties

child's play
  • Informal
6 1.0

An activity that is very easy to do

power play
  • Literature
4 6.3

A forceful action to gain control over other people

4 4.4

A play in American football where a player runs forward with the ball

3 3.9

A short play with only one act

morality play
  • Literature
3 9.9

A play where characters are good or bad qualities to teach right and wrong

2 2.0

A small informal group where young children meet to play and learn

plug and play
  • Specialized
2 4.2

Works as soon as you connect or install it without needing any setup

1 5.6

A golf contest where each hole is a separate game and the player who wins more holes wins the contest

passing play
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A play in American football where a player throws the ball forward to a teammate

1 8.4

A play that shows the last days of Jesus, especially his suffering and death

triple play
  • Jargon
1 6.1

A baseball or softball play when the defending team gets three players out in one action

draw play
  • Jargon
1 6.2

A football play where the quarterback fakes a pass then hands the ball to a running back

run of play
  • Jargon
1 6.1

The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties

play therapy
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A way for children to show feelings and solve problems using play

1 7.4

A show that uses hand or puppet shadows on a screen to tell a story

1 3.0

Things children do for fun without strict rules

1 2.9

A planned move in American football by the team with the ball to move it or score

miracle play
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A play from the Middle Ages showing events from a saint's life

mystery play
  • Literature
1 9.9

A play from the Middle Ages that tells Bible stories, often about Jesus, performed for people

1 3.4

A show using puppets to tell a story

1 4.5

A group performance where actors read a play aloud without full sets or learning lines

power play
  • Jargon
1 4.6

A team plan that puts several players in one area to try to score

squeeze play
  • Jargon
1 7.5

A baseball play where a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts

1 7.4

A way of putting pressure on someone to make them agree

1 4.3

A pause in a game because of bad weather or other events

stroke play
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A way to score golf where the lowest total shots wins

word play
  • Informal
1 4.1

A clever or funny use of words to make jokes

An action by players during a baseball game to help the team win

A planned action a basketball team uses during a game to score or defend

A story that actors perform on stage

force play
  • Specialized
7.3

A play where a runner must advance and a fielder with the ball touches the base first

four-act play
  • Archaic
6.3

A play divided into four parts that each show part of the story

long-play
  • Specialized
6.0

A record that plays at a slower speed and lasts longer than older records

long-play
  • Jargon
6.8

A full recording of someone playing a video game from start to finish

medal play
  • Jargon
6.2

A way to score golf where the player with the fewest total shots wins

hold-up play
  • Jargon
5.9

A way a player keeps the ball to let teammates move forward

8.4

A baseball play where a runner on third base waits for a bunt then runs home to avoid being out

A set time in a game or match when the action continues

play-actor
  • Archaic
7.2

An actor who travels to different towns to act in plays

play-box
  • Archaic
8.4

A box a child uses to keep toys and personal things

2.7

A soft colorful material children shape with their hands to make objects

satyr play
  • Literature
9.9

A short ancient Greek play mixing serious drama with rude comedy and actors dressed as half-man, half-goat creatures

A risky baseball play where the runner on third base runs home while the batter bunts

trap play
  • Jargon
7.3

A play that lets a defender pass the start line then blocks them to open a gap for the runner

9.9

A stage play that shows rich people's dramatic, emotional lives

How Skillful

play
3 8.8
fencing
26 3.4
sparring
22 4.5

Surface Forms

play singular
plays plural

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.