To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. • To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless. • To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game). • Specifying a particular sporting role or position. • To compete against, in a game. • To be the opposing score to. • To contend or fight using weapons, both as practice or in real life-or-death combats; to engage in martial games; to joust; to fence • To act or behave in a stated way. • To give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be. • To act as (the indicated role). • To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre). • To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance. • To produce music using a musical instrument. • To produce music. • To operate (a device or media) so as to cause sound (especially music) or moving pictures to be produced. • To render (a musical title, compositional style, film title, etc.) using a musical instrument or device. • To emit or relay sound (especially music) or moving pictures; (of a device) to operate media. • To be performed, reproduced, or shown. • To perform or give performances in or at (a venue or location). • To act or perform (a play). • To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc. • To move in a light or brisk manner. • To move so as to fall upon or sweep across something, or to direct or operate (something) in such a manner. • To move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro. • To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy. • To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way. • To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain. • To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down. • To gamble. • To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it. • To manipulate, deceive, or swindle. • To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously. • To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around. • For additional senses in various idiomatic phrases, see the individual entries, such as play along, play at, play down, play off, play on, play out, play to, play up, etc.