Play vs. Game

Playverb

(intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.

Playverb

To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

Playverb

(transitive) To compete against, in a game.

Playverb

(transitive) (in the scoring of games and sports) To be the opposing score to.

Playverb

(intransitive) To take part in amorous activity; to make love, fornicate; to have sex.

Playverb

(transitive) To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance.

Playverb

To produce music or theatre.

Playverb

To produce music.

Playverb

To produce music using a musical instrument.

Playverb

To produce music (or a specified song or musical style) using (a specified musical instrument).

Playverb

To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording.

Playverb

To be performed; to be shown.

Playverb

To perform in or at; to give performances in or at.

Playverb

(transitive) To act or perform (a play).

Playverb

(heading) To behave in a particular way.

Playverb

(copulative) Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being.

Playverb

(intransitive) To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.

Playverb

(intransitive) To act; to behave; to practice deception.

Playverb

(transitive) To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute.

Playverb

To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate.

Playverb

(intransitive) To move gaily; to disport.

Playverb

(transitive) To put in action or motion.

Playverb

(transitive) To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.

Playverb

To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone.

Playnoun

Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.

Playnoun

(uncountable) Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.

Playnoun

"Repeated, incompletely functional behavior differing from more serious versions ..., and initiated voluntarily when ... in a low-stress setting."

Playnoun

(uncountable) The conduct, or course, of a game.

Playnoun

(uncountable) An individual's performance in a sport or game.

Playnoun

(countable) A short sequence of action within a game.

Playnoun

An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.

Playnoun

(countable) A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.

Playnoun

(countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.

Playnoun

(countable) A major move by a business or investor.

Playnoun

(countable) A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.

Playnoun

(uncountable) The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely.

Playnoun

Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.

Playnoun

(countable) A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.

Playnoun

Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.

Playverb

To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.

Playverb

To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.

Playverb

To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.

Playverb

To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.

Playverb

To act; to behave; to practice deception.

Playverb

To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.

Playverb

To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.

Playverb

To act on the stage; to personate a character.

Playverb

To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.

Playverb

To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.

Playverb

To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.

Playverb

To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.

Playverb

To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman.

Playverb

To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball.

Playverb

To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.

Playnoun

Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.

Playnoun

Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.

Playnoun

The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play.

Playnoun

Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit.

Playnoun

A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.

Playnoun

The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.

Playnoun

Performance on an instrument of music.

Playnoun

Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action.

Playnoun

Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth.

Playnoun

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage;

Playnoun

a theatrical performance of a drama;

Playnoun

a preset plan of action in team sports;

Playnoun

a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill;

Playnoun

a state in which action is feasible;

Playnoun

utilization or exercise;

Playnoun

an attempt to get something;

Playnoun

play by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules;

Playnoun

(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds;

Playnoun

the removal of constraints;

Playnoun

a weak and tremulous light;

Playnoun

verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously);

Playnoun

movement or space for movement;

Playnoun

gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement;

Playnoun

the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize);

Playnoun

the activity of doing something in an agreed succession;

Playnoun

the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully

Playverb

participate in games or sport;

Playverb

act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome;

Playverb

play on an instrument;

Playverb

play a role or part;

Playverb

be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children;

Playverb

replay (as a melody);

Playverb

perform music on (a musical instrument);

Playverb

pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind;

Playverb

move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly;

Playverb

bet or wager (money);

Playverb

engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion;

Playverb

pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity;

Playverb

emit recorded sound;

Playverb

perform on a certain location;

Playverb

put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game;

Playverb

engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously;

Playverb

behave in a certain way;

Playverb

cause to emit recorded sounds;

Playverb

manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination;

Playverb

use to one's advantage;

Playverb

consider not very seriously;

Playverb

be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way;

Playverb

behave carelessly or indifferently;

Playverb

cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space;

Playverb

perform on a stage or theater;

Playverb

be performed;

Playverb

cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;

Playverb

discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream;

Playverb

make bets;

Playverb

stake on the outcome of an issue;

Playverb

shoot or hit in a particular manner;

Playverb

use or move;

Playverb

employ in a game or in a specific position;

Playverb

contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;

Playverb

exhaust by allowing to pull on the line;

Gamenoun

A playful or competitive activity.

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

The number of points necessary to win a game.

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

An amorous dalliance.

Gamenoun

(countable) A video game.

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

(uncountable) Wild animals hunted for food.

Gamenoun

The ability to seduce someone, usually by strategy.

Gamenoun

Mastery; the ability to excel at something.

Gamenoun

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

Gameadjective

(colloquial) Willing to participate.

Gameadjective

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

Gameadjective

Persistent, especially in senses similar to the above.

Gameadjective

Injured, lame (of a limb).

Gameverb

(intransitive) To gamble.

Gameverb

(intransitive) To play video games.

Gameverb

(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.

Gameverb

To perform premeditated seduction strategy.

Gameadjective

Crooked; lame; as, a game leg.

Gameadjective

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

Gameadjective

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

Gamenoun

Sport of any kind; jest, frolic.

Gamenoun

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.

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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.

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

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

Gameverb

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

Gameverb

To play at any sport or diversion.

Gameverb

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.

Gamenoun

a single play of a game;

Gamenoun

a contest with rules to determine a winner;

Gamenoun

an amusement or pastime;

Gamenoun

animal hunted for food or sport

Gamenoun

the game equipment needed to play a game;

Gamenoun

your occupation or line of work;

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

the flesh of wild animals that is used for food

Gamenoun

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

Gamenoun

frivolous or trifling behavior;

Gameverb

place a bet on;

Gameadjective

disabled in the feet or legs;

Gameadjective

willing to face danger

Game

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.