Key: "S:" = Show Synset (semantic) relations, "W:" = Show Word (lexical) relations
Display options for sense: (gloss) "an example sentence"
Noun
S: (n) play, drama, dramatic play (a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage) "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
S: (n) play (a theatrical performance of a drama) "the play lasted two hours"
S: (n) play (a preset plan of action in team sports) "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
S: (n) maneuver, manoeuvre, play (a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill) "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
S: (n) play (a state in which action is feasible) "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"
S: (n) play (utilization or exercise) "the play of the imagination"
S: (n) bid, play (an attempt to get something) "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"
S: (n) play, child's play (activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules) "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
S: (n) playing period, period of play, play ((in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds) "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
S: (n) free rein, play (the removal of constraints) "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"
S: (n) shimmer, play (a weak and tremulous light) "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
S: (n) fun, play, sport (verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)) "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport"
S: (n) looseness, play (movement or space for movement) "there was too much play in the steering wheel"
S: (n) play, frolic, romp, gambol, caper (gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement) "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly"
S: (n) turn, play ((game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession) "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
S: (n) activity (any specific behavior) "they avoided all recreational activity"
S: (n) update (the act of bringing someone or something up to date) "the server update ran overnight"; "the local news station broadcast a special weather update"
S: (n) variation, variance (an activity that varies from a norm or standard) "any variation in his routine was immediately reported"
S: (n) space walk (any kind of physical activity outside a spacecraft by one of the crew)
S: (n) domesticity (domestic activities or life) "making a hobby of domesticity"
S: (n) operation (the activity of operating something (a machine or business etc.)) "her smooth operation of the vehicle gave us a surprisingly comfortable ride"
S: (n) operation (a planned activity involving many people performing various actions) "they organized a rescue operation"; "the biggest police operation in French history"; "running a restaurant is quite an operation"; "consolidate the companies various operations"
S: (n) practice, pattern (a customary way of operation or behavior) "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"
S: (n) diversion, recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates) "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation"
S: (n) cup of tea, bag, dish (an activity that you like or at which you are superior) "chemistry is not my cup of tea"; "his bag now is learning to play golf"; "marriage was scarcely his dish"
S: (n) follow-up, followup (an activity that continues something that has already begun or that repeats something that has already been done)
S: (n) game (a contest with rules to determine a winner) "you need four people to play this game"
S: (n) turn, play ((game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession) "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
S: (n) music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.)) "his music was his central interest"
S: (n) burst, fit (a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason)) "a burst of applause"; "a fit of housecleaning"
S: (n) work (activity directed toward making or doing something) "she checked several points needing further work"
S: (n) works, deeds (performance of moral or religious acts) "salvation by deeds"; "the reward for good works"
S: (n) service ((law) the acts performed by an English feudal tenant for the benefit of his lord which formed the consideration for the property granted to him)
S: (n) waste, wastefulness, dissipation (useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly) "if the effort brings no compensating gain it is a waste"; "mindless dissipation of natural resources"
S: (n) attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try (earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something) "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try"
S: (n) control (the activity of managing or exerting control over something) "the control of the mob by the police was admirable"
S: (n) protection (the activity of protecting someone or something) "the witnesses demanded police protection"
S: (n) education, instruction, teaching, pedagogy, didactics, educational activity (the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill) "he received no formal education"; "our instruction was carefully programmed"; "good classroom teaching is seldom rewarded"
S: (n) dismantling, dismantlement, disassembly (the act of taking something apart (as a piece of machinery)) "Russia and the United States discussed the dismantling of their nuclear weapons"
S: (n) operation, military operation (activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign)) "it was a joint operation of the navy and air force"
S: (n) measurement, measuring, measure, mensuration (the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule) "the measurements were carefully done"; "his mental measurings proved remarkably accurate"
S: (n) calibration, standardization, standardisation (the act of checking or adjusting (by comparison with a standard) the accuracy of a measuring instrument) "the thermometer needed calibration"
S: (n) organization, organisation (the activity or result of distributing or disposing persons or things properly or methodically) "his organization of the work force was very efficient"
S: (n) grouping (the activity of putting things together in groups)
S: (n) support, supporting (the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening) "he leaned against the wall for support"
S: (n) procedure, process (a particular course of action intended to achieve a result) "the procedure of obtaining a driver's license"; "it was a process of trial and error"
S: (n) ceremony (any activity that is performed in an especially solemn elaborate or formal way) "the ceremony of smelling the cork and tasting the wine"; "he makes a ceremony of addressing his golf ball"; "he disposed of it without ceremony"
S: (n) ceremony (the proper or conventional behavior on some solemn occasion) "an inaugural ceremony"
S: (n) laughter (the activity of laughing; the manifestation of joy or mirth or scorn) "he enjoyed the laughter of the crowd"
S: (n) market, marketplace, market place (the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold) "without competition there would be no market"; "they were driven from the marketplace"
S: (n) politics (the activities and affairs involved in managing a state or a government) "unemployment dominated the politics of the inter-war years"; "government agencies multiplied beyond the control of representative politics"
S: (n) preparation, readying (the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose) "preparations for the ceremony had begun"
S: (n) aid, assist, assistance, help (the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose) "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without assistance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading"
S: (n) support (the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities) "his support kept the family together"; "they gave him emotional support during difficult times"
S: (n) solo (any activity that is performed alone without assistance)
S: (n) buzz (a confusion of activity and gossip) "the buzz of excitement was so great that a formal denial was issued"
S: (n) fun (violent and excited activity) "she asked for money and then the fun began"
S: (n) release, outlet, vent (activity that frees or expresses creative energy or emotion) "she had no other outlet for her feelings"; "he gave vent to his anger"
S: (n) last (a person's dying act; the final thing a person can do) "he breathed his last"
S: (n) perturbation, disturbance (activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption) "the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset"; "he looked around for the source of the disturbance"; "there was a disturbance of neural function"
S: (n) gambling, gaming, play (the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)) "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table"
S: (n) play, swordplay (the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully)
Verb
S: (v) play (participate in games or sport) "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
S: (v) play (act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome) "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"
S: (v) play (play on an instrument) "The band played all night long"
S: (v) act, play, represent (play a role or part) "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"
S: (v) play (be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children) "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
S: (v) play, spiel (replay (as a melody)) "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
S: (v) play (perform music on (a musical instrument)) "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
S: (v) act, play, act as (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind) "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
S: (v) play (move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly) "The spotlights played on the politicians"
S: (v) play (bet or wager (money)) "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
S: (v) play, recreate (engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion) "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
S: (v) play (pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity) "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
S: (v) play (emit recorded sound) "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
S: (v) play (perform on a certain location) "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
S: (v) play (put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game) "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"
S: (v) play, toy (engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously) "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"
S: (v) play (behave in a certain way) "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
S: (v) play, run (cause to emit recorded audio or video) "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "I'll play you my favorite record"; "He never tires of playing that video"
S: (v) toy, fiddle, diddle, play (manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination) "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"
S: (v) play (use to one's advantage) "She plays on her clients' emotions"
S: (v) dally, trifle, play (consider not very seriously) "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
S: (v) play (be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way) "This speech didn't play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"
S: (v) dally, toy, play, flirt (behave carelessly or indifferently) "Play about with a young girl's affection"
S: (v) play (cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space) "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
S: (v) act, play, roleplay, playact (perform on a stage or theater) "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
S: (v) play (be performed or presented for public viewing) "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
S: (v) bring, work, play, wreak, make for (cause to happen or to occur as a consequence) "I cannot work a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"
S: (v) play (discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream) "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
S: (v) play (make bets) "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
S: (v) bet, wager, play (stake on the outcome of an issue) "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"
S: (v) play (shoot or hit in a particular manner) "She played a good backhand last night"
S: (v) play (use or move) "I had to play my queen"
S: (v) play (employ in a game or in a specific position) "They played him on first base"
S: (v) meet, encounter, play, take on (contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle) "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"