no obj.]engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose
玩，玩耍
the children were playing by a pool.
孩子們在池塘邊玩耍。
her friends were playing with their dolls.
她的朋友在玩布娃娃。
■[with obj.]engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment
玩（遊戲）；搞（活動）
I want to play Snakes and Ladders.
我想玩蛇梯棋。
■amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence
假扮…玩
the boys were playing at soldiers.
這些男孩在玩扮演士兵。
■(play at)engage in without proper seriousness or understanding
兒戲似的做，不認真地幹
you cannot play at being a Christian.
妳不能把當基督徒當做兒戲。
■(play with)treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement
玩弄
she likes to play with people's emotions.
她喜歡玩弄人的情感。
■(play with)handle without skill so as to damage or prevent from working
擺弄
has somebody been playing with these taps?.
有人壹直在擺弄這些水龍頭嗎？。
■[with negative or in questions](be playing at)used to convey one's irritation at someone's actions or one's failure to understand their motives
〔用以表示對某人行為的惱怒或表示未能理解其動機〕幹，鬧
what on earth do you think you're playing at?.
想想看，妳到底是在幹嗎？。
[with obj.]take part in (a sport) on a regular basis
（定期）參加（體育活動）
I play squash and badminton.
我打壁球和羽毛球。
■participate in (a sporting match or contest)
參加（體育比賽或競賽）
■compete against (another player or team) in a sporting match
（在體育比賽中）同…比賽
the team will play France on Wednesday.
星期三這支球隊將與法國隊比賽。
■[no obj.][usu. with negative](figurative)be cooperative
(喻)合作，買某人的賬
he needs financial backing, but the building societies won't play.
他需要經濟支持，但該建築協會並不買他的賬。
■[no obj.]be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a sporting contest
（尤指在體育競賽中某個具體位置上）司職
he played in goal.
他擔任守門員。
■strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game
（在遊戲中）擊（球）；擊打
■[no obj., with adverbial](of a cricket ground) be in such condition as to have a specified effect on play
（板球場狀況對比賽）產生影響
■assign to take part in a match, especially in a specified position
（尤指比賽中在特定位置上）安排，任用，確定（運動員）
the manager played his strongest side of the season.
領隊確定了本賽季最強大的陣容。
■move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game
打，出（牌）；走（棋子）
he played his queen.
他出了壹張王後牌。
■bet or gamble at or on
打賭，賭博
he didn't gamble or play the ponies.
他沒有賭博也沒有賭馬。
[with obj.]represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film
（在戲劇或電影中）扮演（角色）
early in her career she played Ophelia.
早期她曾扮演過奧菲莉婭。
■[no obj.]perform in a film or theatrical production
（在電影或戲劇中）表演
he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor.
他引以為豪的是跟壹位著名演員演過對手戲。
■put on or take part in (a theatrical performance, film, or concert)
演出；參加（戲劇，電影，音樂會）
the show was one of the best we ever played.
這次演出是我們所演出的最好的場次之壹。
■give a dramatic performance at (a particular theatre or place)
（在特定戲院或地點）演戲
■behave as though one were (a specified type of person)
假扮
the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel.
那位船長假扮清白，但從他的船上卻發現了走私物品。
■(play someone for)treat someone as being of (a specified type)
將某人看作（某種類型的人）
don't imagine you can play me for a fool.
別以為妳能把我當傻瓜。
■(play a trick/joke on)behave in a deceptive or teasing way towards
欺騙，逗弄
[with obj.]perform on (a musical instrument)
演奏（樂器）
■possess the skill of performing upon (a musical instrument)
具有演奏（樂器）的技能
he taught himself to play the violin.
他自學了拉小提琴。
■produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music)
拉（或彈、吹）出（音符）；演奏（音樂）
they played a violin sonata.
他們演奏了壹支小提琴奏鳴曲。
■make (a record, record player, radio, etc.) produce sounds
播放（唱片），開（錄音機、收音機等）
■[no obj.](of a musical instrument, record, record player, etc.) produce sounds
（樂器、錄音、錄音機等）發出聲音
somewhere within, a harp was playing.
裏面某個地方有豎琴的聲音。
■[with obj. and adverbial of direction]accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction
（在某人朝特定方向移動時，用音樂）伴隨，陪伴
the bagpipes played them out of the dining room.
他們在風笛樂聲中走出了餐廳。
[no obj.]move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker
（輕快地）移動；顯現；消逝；晃動，搖曳，變幻
a smile played about her lips.
她的嘴角露出壹絲微笑。
■(of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water
（噴泉或類似水源）湧出，溢出（輕柔流淌的水）
[with obj.]allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in
讓（上鉤的魚）掙紮得筋疲力盡
noun
[mass noun]
activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children
玩，玩耍，玩樂
a child at play may use a stick as an aeroplane.
玩耍時的孩子會用棍子當飛機。
■behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously
玩笑
I flinched, but only in play.
我退縮了，但只是開開玩笑而已。
■[as modifier]designed to be used in games of pretence; not real
遊戲的；假裝的；假的
play families are arranged in play houses.
遊戲家庭被安排在了遊戲屋裏。
the conducting of a sporting match
比賽
rain wrecked the second day's play.
雨破壞了第二天的比賽。
■the action or manner of engaging in a sport or game
（運動，遊戲）動作；方式
he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game.
他在整場比賽中保持了同樣的動作節奏。
■the status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules
球處於可按規則進行比賽的狀態
the ball was put in play.
球被投入到比賽之中。
■(figurative)the state of being active, operative, or effective
(喻)起作用狀態，實施狀態，有效狀態
luckcomes into play.
運氣起作用了。
■[count noun]a move or manoeuvre in a sport or game
（運動或遊戲中的）（壹）步；打法，走法，做法
the best play is to lead the 3 of Clubs.
最好的打法就是先出梅花3。
■(archaic)gambling
(古)賭博
[count noun]a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast
劇本，戲劇
the actors put on a new play.
演員們上演了壹出新戲。
the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move
活動空間，間隙
the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play.
操向齒條松了，有點活動。
■(figurative)scope or freedom to act or operate
(喻)自由度；運作範圍；回旋余地
our policy allows the market to have freer play.
我們的政策允許市場更自由運作。
■light and constantly changing movement
輕快的活動，搖曳，變幻
the artist exploits the play of light across the surface.
這位藝術家運用了掠過表面的光的變幻。
常用詞組
make a play for
(informal)attempt to attract or attain
(非正式)（試圖）吸引，勾引；（試圖）達到，得到
make (great) play of (或 with)
draw attention to in an ostentatious manner, typically to gain prestige or advantage
（尤指為取得聲望或優勢）故意賣弄，大肆炒作
the company made great play of their recent growth in profits.
該公司大肆炒作其最近的利潤增長。
make play with
treat frivolously
輕浮對待，戲弄
not playing with a full deck
見 deck
play ball
見 ball
play both ends against the middle
keep one's options open by supporting or favouring opposing sides
為獲利而腳踏兩只船，使鷸蚌相爭而漁翁得利
play something by ear
perform music without having to read from a score
不看樂譜彈奏
play it by ear
(informal)proceed instinctively according to results and circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan
(非正式)見機行事，走壹步看壹步
play by the rules
follow what is generally held to be the correct line of behaviour
按部就班，按規矩辦事
play one's cards close to one's chest
見 chest
play one's cards right (或 well)
見 card
play ducks and drakes with
見 ducks and drakes
play fair
observe principles of justice; avoid cheating
正大光明；不徇私舞弊
play someone false
prove treacherous or deceitful towards someone
背叛；欺騙，蒙騙
play fast and loose
behave irresponsibly or immorally
處事輕率；行為反復無常
play favourites
(chiefly N. Amer.)show favouritism towards someone or something
(主北美)偏袒，偏愛
play the field
見 field
play for time
use specious excuses or unnecessary manoeuvres to gain time
（以似是而非的理由或不必要的手法）爭取時間
play the game
見 game
play God
見 God
play havoc with
見 havoc
play hell
見 hell
play hookey
見 hookey
play a (或 one's) hunch
make an instinctive choice
憑直覺辦事
play oneself in
(Brit.)become accustomed to the circumstances and conditions of a game or activity
(英)適應比賽（或活動）環境
play into someone's hands
act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage
（在行事時無意中）讓別人占了便宜
play it cool
(informal)make an effort to be or appear to be calm and unemotional
(非正式)努力顯得冷靜；不露聲色
play the market
speculate in stocks
股票投機
a play on words
a pun
雙關語
play (或 play it) safe (或 for safety)
take precautions; avoid risks
謹慎行事；不冒險
play to the gallery
見 gallery
play truant
見 truant
play with oneself
(informal)masturbate
play with fire
take foolish risks
玩火，愚蠢冒險