Play vs. Skit

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

Example: ‘They played long and hard.’;

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

Example: ‘He plays on three teams.’; ‘Who's playing now?’; ‘play football;’; ‘play sports;’; ‘play games’;

(transitive) To compete against, in a game.

Example: ‘We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.’;

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

Example: ‘Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!’;

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

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

Example: ‘He plays the King, and she's the Queen.’; ‘No part of the brain plays the role of permanent memory.’;

To produce music or theatre.

To produce music.

To produce music using a musical instrument.

Example: ‘I've practiced the piano off and on, but I still can't play very well.’;

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

Example: ‘I'll play the piano and you sing.’; ‘Can you play an instrument?’; ‘We especially like to play jazz together.’; ‘Play a song for me.’; ‘Do you know how to play Für Elise?’; ‘My son thinks he can play music.’;

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

Example: ‘You can play the DVD now.’;

To be performed; to be shown.

Example: ‘His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow.’;

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

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

Example: ‘to play a comedy’;

(heading) To behave in a particular way.

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

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

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

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

Example: ‘to play tricks’;

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

Example: ‘The fountain plays.’; ‘He played the torch beam around the room.’;

(intransitive) To move gaily; to disport.

(transitive) To put in action or motion.

Example: ‘to play cannon upon a fortification;’; ‘to play a trump in a card game’;

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

To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone.

Example: ‘You played me!’;

Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.

Example: ‘Children learn through play.’;

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

Example: ‘This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills.’;

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

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

Example: ‘Play was very slow in the first half.’; ‘After the rain break, play resumed at 3 o'clock.’;

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

Example: ‘His play has improved a lot this season.’;

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

Example: ‘That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward.’;

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

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

Example: ‘This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays.’;

(countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.

Example: ‘We saw a two-act play in the theatre.’;

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

Example: ‘ABC Widgets makes a play in the bicycle market with its bid to take over Acme Sprockets.’;

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

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

Example: ‘No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it.’; ‘Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous.’;

Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.

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

Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.

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

Example: ‘As Cannace was playing in her walk.’; ‘The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day,Had he thy reason, would he skip and play!’; ‘And some, the darlings of their Lord,Play smiling with the flame and sword.’;

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

Example: ‘"Nay," quod this monk, "I have no lust to pleye."’; ‘Men are apt to play with their healths.’;

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

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

Example: ‘One that . . . can play well on an instrument.’; ‘Play, my friend, and charm the charmer.’;

To act; to behave; to practice deception.

Example: ‘His mother played false with a smith.’;

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

Example: ‘The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play.’;

To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.

Example: ‘Even as the waving sedges play with wind.’; ‘The setting sunPlays on their shining arms and burnished helmets.’; ‘All fame is foreign but of true desert,Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.’;

To act on the stage; to personate a character.

Example: ‘A lord will hear your play to-night.’; ‘Courts are theaters where some men play.’; ‘Art thou alive?Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight.’;

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

Example: ‘First Peace and Silence all disputes control,Then Order plays the soul.’;

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

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

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

Example: ‘Nature hereWantoned as in her prime, and played at willHer virgin fancies.’;

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.

Example: ‘Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt.’;

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.

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

Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.

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

Example: ‘John naturally loved rough play.’;

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.

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

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

Example: ‘A play ought to be a just image of human nature.’;

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

Performance on an instrument of music.

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

Example: ‘The joints are let exactly into one another, that they have no play between them.’;

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

Example: ‘I, with two more to help me,Will hold the foe in play.’;

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

Example: ‘he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway’;

a theatrical performance of a drama;

Example: ‘the play lasted two hours’;

a preset plan of action in team sports;

Example: ‘the coach drew up the plays for her team’;

a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill;

Example: ‘he made a great maneuver’; ‘the runner was out on a play by the shortstop’;

a state in which action is feasible;

Example: ‘the ball was still in play’; ‘insiders said the company's stock was in play’;

utilization or exercise;

Example: ‘the play of the imagination’;

an attempt to get something;

Example: ‘they made a futile play for power’; ‘he made a bid to gain attention’;

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

Example: ‘Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child’;

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

Example: ‘rain stopped play in the 4th inning’;

the removal of constraints;

Example: ‘he gave free rein to his impulses’; ‘they gave full play to the artist's talent’;

a weak and tremulous light;

Example: ‘the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers’; ‘the play of light on the water’;

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

Example: ‘he became a figure of fun’;

movement or space for movement;

Example: ‘there was too much play in the steering wheel’;

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

Example: ‘it was all done in play’; ‘their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly’;

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

Example: ‘his gambling cost him a fortune’; ‘there was heavy play at the blackjack table’;

the activity of doing something in an agreed succession;

Example: ‘it is my turn’; ‘it is still my play’;

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

participate in games or sport;

Example: ‘We played hockey all afternoon’; ‘play cards’; ‘Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches’;

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

Example: ‘This factor played only a minor part in his decision’; ‘This development played into her hands’; ‘I played no role in your dismissal’;

play on an instrument;

Example: ‘The band played all night long’;

play a role or part;

Example: ‘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’;

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

Example: ‘The kids were playing outside all day’; ‘I used to play with trucks as a little girl’;

replay (as a melody);

Example: ‘Play it again, Sam’; ‘She played the third movement very beautifully’;

perform music on (a musical instrument);

Example: ‘He plays the flute’; ‘Can you play on this old recorder?’;

pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind;

Example: ‘He acted the idiot’; ‘She plays deaf when the news are bad’;

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

Example: ‘The spotlights played on the politicians’;

bet or wager (money);

Example: ‘He played $20 on the new horse’; ‘She plays the races’;

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

Example: ‘On weekends I play’; ‘The students all recreate alike’;

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

Example: ‘Let's play like I am mommy’; ‘Play cowboy and Indians’;

emit recorded sound;

Example: ‘The tape was playing for hours’; ‘the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered’;

perform on a certain location;

Example: ‘The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16’; ‘She has been playing on Broadway for years’;

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

Example: ‘He is playing his cards close to his chest’; ‘The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory’;

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

Example: ‘They played games on their opponents’; ‘play the stockmarket’; ‘play with her feelings’; ‘toy with an idea’;

behave in a certain way;

Example: ‘play safe’; ‘play it safe’; ‘play fair’;

cause to emit recorded sounds;

Example: ‘They ran the tapes over and over again’; ‘Can you play my favorite record?’;

manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination;

Example: ‘She played nervously with her wedding ring’; ‘Don't fiddle with the screws’; ‘He played with the idea of running for the Senate’;

use to one's advantage;

Example: ‘She plays on her clients' emotions’;

consider not very seriously;

Example: ‘He is trifling with her’; ‘She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania’;

be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way;

Example: ‘This speech didn't play well with the American public’; ‘His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee’;

behave carelessly or indifferently;

Example: ‘Play about with a young girl's affection’;

cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space;

Example: ‘The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack’;

perform on a stage or theater;

Example: ‘She acts in this play’; ‘He acted in `Julius Caesar'’; ‘I played in `A Christmas Carol'’;

be performed;

Example: ‘What's playing in the local movie theater?’; ‘`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years’;

cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;

Example: ‘I cannot work a miracle’; ‘wreak havoc’; ‘bring comments’; ‘play a joke’; ‘The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area’;

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

Example: ‘play water from a hose’; ‘The fountains played all day’;

make bets;

Example: ‘Play the reaces’; ‘play the casinos in Trouville’;

stake on the outcome of an issue;

Example: ‘I bet $100 on that new horse’; ‘She played all her money on the dark horse’;

shoot or hit in a particular manner;

Example: ‘She played a good backhand last night’;

use or move;

Example: ‘I had to play my queen’;

employ in a game or in a specific position;

Example: ‘They played him on first base’;

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

Example: ‘Princeton plays Yale this weekend’; ‘Charlie likes to play Mary’;

exhaust by allowing to pull on the line;

Example: ‘play a hooked fish’;

A short comic performance.

A jeer or sally; a brief satire.

(obsolete) A wanton girl; a wench.

To make fun of.

To cast reflections on; to asperse.

A reflection; a jeer or gibe; a sally; a brief satire; a squib.

Example: ‘A similar vein satire upon the emptiness of writers is given in his "Tritical Essay upon the Faculties of the Human Mind;" but that is a mere skit compared with this strange performance.’;

A wanton girl; a light wench.

A short theatrical presentation, often comical or satirical. Comical skits are sometimes presented by amateur or ad hoc groups at parties, dinners, or other social gatherings.

a short theatrical episode