{
    "term": "play",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "play",
            "heSheIt": "plays"
        },
        "pastSimple": "played",
        "pastParticiple": "played",
        "ingForm": "playing"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to do things for pleasure, as children do; to enjoy yourself, rather than work",
            "sensetop": "play with somebody/somethingplay something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You'll have to play inside today."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's a time to work and a time to play."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A group of kids were playing with a ball in the street.",
                    "contextForm": "play with somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I haven't got anybody to play with!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Let's **play a** different **game**.",
                    "contextForm": "play something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The other children wouldn't let him play."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The little girl was playing with her toys."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The children spent too much time playing computer games."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I used to spend hours playing with Lego."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + play": ["let somebody"],
                "preposition": ["at", "with"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to pretend to be or do something for fun",
            "sensetop": "play somethingplay at somethingplay at doing something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Let's play pirates.",
                    "contextForm": "play something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Let's play at pirates!",
                    "contextForm": "play at something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They were playing at being cowboys.",
                    "contextForm": "play at doing something"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + play": ["let somebody"],
                "preposition": ["at", "with"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to be involved in a game; to compete against somebody in a game",
            "sensetop": "play somethingplay something with/against somebodyplay somebodyplay somebody at somethingplay for somebodyplay against somebodyplay with somebody+ adv./prep.",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **play football/cards**",
                    "contextForm": "play something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I usually play chess with my brother.",
                    "contextForm": "play something with/against somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "France are playing Wales tomorrow.",
                    "contextForm": "play somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have you played her at squash yet?",
                    "contextForm": "play somebody at something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He plays for Cleveland.",
                    "contextForm": "play for somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "France are playing against Wales on Saturday.",
                    "contextForm": "play against somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I like football, but I don't have anyone to play with.",
                    "contextForm": "play with somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Evans played very well.",
                    "contextForm": "+ adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've never played John at tennis."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has played in every game this season."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was playing cards with her mother."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These guys make the team very difficult to play against."
                },
                {
                    "text": "United are difficult to play against."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do you want to play cards with me?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have you ever played her at chess?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They play basketball on Saturday mornings."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They've played six games in the last month."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If you are interested in playing or coaching, please contact the club president."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He plays golf on Sundays."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Both teams played well."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She plays for the local team."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Matches were played on Sunday."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Games and toys"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["brilliantly", "superbly", "well"],
                "verb + play": ["learn to", "teach somebody to", "be difficult to"],
                "preposition": ["against", "at", "for"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to take a particular position in a sports team",
            "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.+ noun",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Who's playing on the wing?",
                    "contextForm": "+ adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've never played right back before.",
                    "contextForm": "+ noun"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to include somebody in a sports team",
            "sensetop": "play somebody (+ adv./prep.)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I think we should play Matt on the wing."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to make contact with the ball and hit or kick it in the way mentioned",
            "sensetop": "play something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She played the ball and ran forward."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He played a backhand volley."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to move a piece in chess, etc.",
            "sensetop": "play something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She played her bishop."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "to put a card face upwards on the table, showing its value",
            "sensetop": "play (something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to play your ace/a trump"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He played out of turn!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "to perform music on a musical instrument",
            "sensetop": "play (something)play on somethingplay something on somethingplay something to somebodyplay somebody something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20.",
                    "contextForm": "play (something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The music is well played and beautifully recorded."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In the distance a band was playing."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Maddy sat in the corner, playing softly on her guitar.",
                    "contextForm": "play on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He played a tune on his harmonica.",
                    "contextForm": "play something on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Play that new piece to us.",
                    "contextForm": "play something to somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Play us that new piece.",
                    "contextForm": "play somebody something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have you ever heard her play?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The band will be playing live in the studio."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a piece that is relatively easy to play"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was playing songs on her ukelele."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Classical music was playing in the background."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He played the bride in with ‘The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Music"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["beautifully", "brilliantly", "excellently"],
                "verb + play": ["learn to", "teach somebody to", "be easy to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "to have the skill of performing on a musical instrument",
            "sensetop": "play something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Do you **play a musical instrument**?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **play the piano/violin/flute**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm learning to play sax."
                },
                {
                    "text": "learning to play the violin"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They learnt to dance, sing and play musical instruments."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In my twenties, I played trombone at a fairly high level."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 11,
            "definition": "to use an MP3 player, a CD player, etc. to make it possible to hear a song, an album, a CD, etc.",
            "sensetop": "play something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I **played** some **music** to drown out the noise."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They're always **playing** that **song** on the radio."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 12,
            "definition": "(of a song, an album, etc.) to be heard",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "My favourite song was playing on the radio."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 13,
            "definition": "to start working; to make a video or DVD start working",
            "sensetop": "play something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "These videos won't play on my computer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Click below to play videos.",
                    "contextForm": "play something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Nothing happens when I try to play a DVD."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A short video was played to the court showing the inside of the house."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 14,
            "definition": "to act in a play, film, etc.; to act the role of somebody",
            "sensetop": "play somethingplay opposite somebody",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **play a role/part**",
                    "contextForm": "play something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The part of Elizabeth was played by Cate Blanchett."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had always wanted to play Othello."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was chosen to play the role of Judas."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She usually plays historical characters."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She played opposite Brad Pitt *(= she and Brad Pitt played the two leading roles)*.",
                    "contextForm": "play opposite somebody"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 15,
            "definition": "to pretend to be something that you are not",
            "sensetop": "+ adj.+ noun",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The children were dressed as soldiers, but they were just playing."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I decided it was safer to **play dead**.",
                    "contextForm": "+ adj."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He walks around playing the outraged victim in all this.",
                    "contextForm": "+ noun"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 16,
            "definition": "to behave as though you are a particular type of person",
            "sensetop": "play the something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This is no time to play the hero."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't play the innocent with me: you know what happened."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 17,
            "definition": "to be performed",
            "sensetop": "play (to somebody)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "A production of ‘Carmen’ was playing to packed houses."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 18,
            "definition": "to give a performance in a particular place",
            "sensetop": "play something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The band are playing 11 cities around the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've played some fantastic venues."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 19,
            "definition": "to have an effect or influence on something",
            "sensetop": "play a part/role (in something/in doing something)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Social media played an important part in the last election."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Farming plays a crucial role in maintaining the landscape."
                },
                {
                    "text": "High environmental temperatures may also play a role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Businesses can **play their part** by contributing some of their profits."
                },
                {
                    "text": "All countries **have a part to play** in protecting the environment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Pesticides play a very important role in food production."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sugar plays a major part in dental cavities."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Zinc may play an important part in the health of the prostate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The media has a role to play in informing the public debate."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 20,
            "definition": "to trick somebody for fun",
            "sensetop": "play a trick/tricks (on somebody)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Children ran around the village playing tricks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I played a trick on him just to see his reaction."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 21,
            "definition": "to deal with a situation in the way mentioned",
            "sensetop": "play something + adv./prep.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He played the situation carefully for maximum advantage."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 22,
            "definition": "to do something without being serious about it or putting much effort into it",
            "sensetop": "play at somethingplay at doing somethingplay something (with something)",
            "labels": "(often disapproving)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He was just playing at it before—now he's serious.",
                    "contextForm": "play at something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They were playing at being villains, like in the movies.",
                    "contextForm": "play at doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Officials are playing politics with farm programs.",
                    "contextForm": "play something (with something)"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 23,
            "definition": "to be willing to work with other people in a helpful way, especially so that somebody can get what they want",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He needs another loan, but the bank won't play."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 24,
            "definition": "to move or appear quickly and lightly, often changing direction or shape",
            "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Sunlight played on the surface of the lake."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A small smile played on her lips."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 25,
            "definition": "when a fountain plays, it produces a steady stream of water",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Two huge fountains were playing outside the entrance."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to have plenty of money, time, etc. for doing something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to masturbate",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to ask in an angry way about what somebody is doing",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What do you think you are playing at?"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pleɪ/",
                "audio": "pl/play/play__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pleɪz/",
                "audio": "pl/play/plays__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pleɪd/",
                "audio": "pl/play/played__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpleɪɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pl/play/playing__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pleɪ/",
                "audio": "pl/play/play__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pleɪz/",
                "audio": "pl/play/plays__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pleɪd/",
                "audio": "pl/play/played__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpleɪɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pl/play/playing__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’."
}