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(intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
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(intransitive, especially with 'with'; see also play with) To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.
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(transitive, intransitive) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
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(intransitive, copulative) To act or behave in a stated way.
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(transitive) To act as (the indicated role).
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(transitive, intransitive) To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
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(transitive, intransitive) To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
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(transitive) To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy.
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(transitive) To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.
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(transitive) To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.
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(intransitive) To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.
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To gamble.
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(transitive) To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
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(transitive, colloquial) To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.
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(African-American Vernacular, intransitive) To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.
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(intransitive) To take part in amorous activity; to make love; see also play around.
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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.