Amusement vs. Game

(uncountable) Entertainment

(countable) An activity that is entertaining or amusing, such as dancing, gunning, or fishing.

Deep thought; muse.

Example: ‘Here I . . . fell into a strong and deep amusement, revolving in my mind, with great perplexity, the amazing change of our affairs.’;

The state of being amused; pleasurable excitement; that which amuses; diversion.

Example: ‘His favorite amusements were architecture and gardening.’;

a feeling of delight at being entertained

a diversion that holds the attention

the state or experience of finding something funny

Example: ‘we looked with amusement at our horoscopes’;

the provision or enjoyment of entertainment

Example: ‘an evening's amusement’;

something that causes laughter or provides entertainment

Example: ‘she was like an adult planning amusements for a child’;

a roundabout, game machine, etc. for providing entertainment at a fairground or resort

Example: ‘on the promenade the amusements were still open’;

Amusement, from the old French à muser – to put into a stupid stare, is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations while the person or animal actively maintains the experience, and is associated with enjoyment, happiness, laughter and pleasure. It is an emotion with positive valence and high physiological arousal.

A playful or competitive activity.

A playful activity that may be unstructured; an amusement or pastime.

Example: ‘Being a child is all fun and games.’;

(countable) An activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment, often competitive or having an explicit goal.

Example: ‘Games in the classroom can make learning fun.’;

(countable) A particular instance of playing a game; match.

Example: ‘Sally won the game.’; ‘They can turn the game around in the second half.’;

That which is gained, such as the stake in a game.

The number of points necessary to win a game.

Example: ‘In short whist, five points are game.’;

(card games) In some games, a point awarded to the player whose cards add up to the largest sum.

(countable) The equipment that enables such activity, particularly as packaged under a title.

Example: ‘Some of the games in the closet we have on the computer as well.’;

One's manner, style, or performance in playing a game.

Example: ‘Study can help your game of chess.’; ‘Hit the gym if you want to toughen up your game.’;

An amorous dalliance.

(countable) A video game.

A field of gainful activity, as an industry or profession.

Example: ‘When it comes to making sales, John is the best in the game.’; ‘He's in the securities game somehow.’;

Something that resembles a game with rules, despite not being designed.

Example: ‘In the game of life, you may find yourself playing the waiting game far too often.’;

An exercise simulating warfare, whether computerized or involving human participants.

(uncountable) Wild animals hunted for food.

Example: ‘The forest has plenty of game.’;

The ability to seduce someone, usually by strategy.

Example: ‘He didn't get anywhere with her because he had no game.’;

Mastery; the ability to excel at something.

(countable) A questionable or unethical practice in pursuit of a goal; a scheme.

Example: ‘You want to borrow my credit card for a week? What's your game?’;

(colloquial) Willing to participate.

(of an animal) That shows a tendency to continue to fight against another animal, despite being wounded, often severely.

Persistent, especially in senses similar to the above.

Injured, lame (of a limb).

(intransitive) To gamble.

(intransitive) To play video games.

(transitive) To exploit loopholes in a system or bureaucracy in a way which defeats or nullifies the spirit of the rules in effect, usually to obtain a result which otherwise would be unobtainable.

Example: ‘We'll bury them in paperwork, and game the system.’;

To perform premeditated seduction strategy.

Crooked; lame; as, a game leg.

Having a resolute, unyielding spirit, like the gamecock; ready to fight to the last; plucky.

Example: ‘I was game . . . .I felt that I could have fought even to the death.’;

Of or pertaining to such animals as are hunted for game, or to the act or practice of hunting.

Sport of any kind; jest, frolic.

Example: ‘We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game.’;

A contest, physical or mental, according to certain rules, for amusement, recreation, or for winning a stake; as, a game of chance; games of skill; field games, etc.

Example: ‘But war's a game, which, were their subject wise,Kings would not play at.’;

The use or practice of such a game; a single match at play; a single contest; as, a game at cards.

Example: ‘Talk the game o'er between the deal.’;

That which is gained, as the stake in a game; also, the number of points necessary to be scored in order to win a game; as, in short whist five points are game.

In some games, a point credited on the score to the player whose cards counts up the highest.

A scheme or art employed in the pursuit of an object or purpose; method of procedure; projected line of operations; plan; project.

Example: ‘Your murderous game is nearly up.’; ‘It was obviously Lord Macaulay's game to blacken the greatest literary champion of the cause he had set himself to attack.’;

Animals pursued and taken by sportsmen; wild meats designed for, or served at, table.

Example: ‘Those species of animals . . . distinguished from the rest by the well-known appellation of game.’;

To rejoice; to be pleased; - often used, in Old English, impersonally with dative.

Example: ‘God loved he best with all his whole hearteAt alle times, though him gamed or smarte.’;

To play at any sport or diversion.

To play for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice, billiards, or other instruments, according to certain rules, with a view to win money or some other thing waged upon the issue of the contest; to gamble.

an amusement or pastime;

Example: ‘they played word games’; ‘he thought of his painting as a game that filled his empty time’; ‘his life was all fun and games’;

animal hunted for food or sport

the game equipment needed to play a game;

Example: ‘the child received several games for his birthday’;

your occupation or line of work;

Example: ‘he's in the plumbing game’; ‘she's in show biz’;

(games) the score at a particular point or the score needed to win;

Example: ‘the game is 6 all’; ‘he is serving for the game’;

the flesh of wild animals that is used for food

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal);

Example: ‘they concocted a plot to discredit the governor’; ‘I saw through his little game from the start’;

frivolous or trifling behavior;

Example: ‘for actors, memorizing lines is no game’; ‘for him, life is all fun and games’;

place a bet on;

Example: ‘Which horse are you backing?’; ‘I'm betting on the new horse’;

disabled in the feet or legs;

Example: ‘a crippled soldier’; ‘a game leg’;

willing to face danger

A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements.