- [countable] a piece of writing performed by actors in a theatre or on television or radio
- a stage/radio play
- She wrote a play for the students to perform.
- to put on/stage a play
- to produce/direct a play
- play by somebody a play by Shakespeare
Extra ExamplesTopics Film and theatrea1, TV, radio and newsa1- They are performing a play by Pinter.
- The theatre was refused permission to stage the play.
- Kate's class decided to put on a play for the school.
- a play about teenage runaways
- The play is reviewed in most of today's papers.
- Her script was adapted and turned into a stage play.
- The first version of the story was a radio play.
- The play was first staged at the end of the 19th century.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- one-act
- stage
- radio
- …
- review
- play about
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- [uncountable] things that people, especially children, do for pleasure rather than as work
- the importance of learning through play
- Making time for both work and play is not easy.
- at play the happy sounds of children at play
- The site offers sports facilities, including tennis courts, and a children's play area.
Extra Examples- Children spend hours at play.
- The local council runs some good play schemes.
- They are raising money for an outdoor play area.
- There are lots of opportunities for imaginative play.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- outdoor
- creative
- imaginative
- …
- area
- equipment
- house
- …
- at play
- in play
- [uncountable] the playing of a game
- Rain stopped play.
- There was some excellent play in yesterday's match.
- The spectators were asked to be quiet during play.
- This video game has fast and exciting game play.
- Does online play have a negative effect on gaming?
Extra ExamplesTopics Games and toysb1, Sports: ball and racket sportsb1- Rain stopped play 40 minutes into the match.
- At close of play he had scored 38 not out.
- There was some nice defensive play by the local champion.
- Team play is very important.
- They took an early lead thanks to some splendid forward play by Cooper.
- She is returning to tournament play for the first time since losing the Wimbledon final.
- A short while later, play resumed.
- He significantly changed the game of basketball with his influential style of play.
- The score after eleven minutes of play was 9-7.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- excellent
- good
- bad
- …
- stop
- in play
- out of play
- at close of play
- at start of play
- [countable] (North American English) an action or move in a game
- He made several nice defensive plays.
- They are playing better now, making big plays at key times.
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsc1- The offensive coordinator has called 60 running plays and 44 passes.
- There were ten double plays completed.
- They ran 10 plays inside the 30 in the fourth quarter.
- the final play of the first half
- the team's ability to execute a play
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- final
- defensive
- …
- execute
- make
- run
- …
- [uncountable] the activity or operation of something; the influence of something on something else
- the free play of market forces
- in play More powerful forces are in play.
- The financial crisis has brought new factors into play.
- Personal feelings should not come into play when you are making business decisions.
- at play Other issues such as market power could be at play.
Extra Examples- There are several measures in play at one time.
- Both of these factors are in play.
- All of his skills were called into play.
- There is more at play here than simply reputations.
- They were more independent and given freer play than many women of their time.
- [uncountable] the possibility of free and easy movement
- We need more play in the rope.
- [uncountable] (literary) a light, quick movement that keeps changing
- the play of sunlight on water
in theatre
children
in sport
activity/influence
in rope
of light/a smile
Word OriginOld English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’.
Idioms
See play in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee play in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishall work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)
- (saying) it is not healthy to spend all your time working; you need to relax too
be child’s play
- (informal) to be very easy to do, so not even a child would find it difficult
call something into play
- (formal) to make use of something
- Chess is a game that calls into play all your powers of concentration.
have a play (with something)
- to spend time playing with a toy, game, etc.
- I had a play with the new computer game.
in/out of play
- (sport) (of a ball) inside/outside the area allowed by the rules of the game
- She just managed to keep the ball in play.
Extra Examples- The ball is still in play.
- He kicked the ball out of play.
make great/much play of something
- to emphasize the importance of a particular fact
- He made great play of the fact that his uncle was a duke.
make a play for somebody/something
- to try to obtain something; to do things that are intended to produce a particular result
- She was making a play for the sales manager's job.
a play on words
- the humorous use of a word or phrase that can have two different meanings synonym pun
the state of play
- the stage that has been reached in a process, etc. which has not yet been completed
- What is the current state of play in the peace talks?
- (especially British English) the score in a sports match, especially in cricket
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