Play vs. Star

Playverb

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

‘They played long and hard.’;

Starnoun

Any small luminous dot appearing in the cloudless portion of the night sky, especially with a fixed location relative to other such dots.

Playverb

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

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

Starnoun

(star) A luminous celestial body, made up of plasma (particularly hydrogen and helium) and having a spherical shape. Depending on context the sun may or may not be included.

Playverb

(transitive) To compete against, in a game.

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

Starnoun

(geometry) A concave polygon with regular, pointy protrusions and indentations, generally with five or six points.

Playverb

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

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

Starnoun

(acting) An actor in a leading role.

‘Many Hollywood stars attended the launch party.’;

Playverb

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

Starnoun

An exceptionally talented or famous person, often in a specific field; a celebrity.

‘His teacher tells us he is a star pupil.’;

Playverb

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

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

Starnoun

(printing) An asterisk (*).

Playverb

To produce music or theatre.

Starnoun

A symbol used to rate hotels, films, etc. with a higher number of stars denoting better quality.

Playverb

To produce music.

Starnoun

A simple dance, or part of a dance, where a group of four dancers each put their right or left hand in the middle and turn around in a circle. You call them right-hand stars or left-hand stars, depending on the hand which is in the middle.

Playverb

To produce music using a musical instrument.

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

Starnoun

(astrology) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny.

‘What's in the stars for you today? Find out in our horoscope.’;

Playverb

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

‘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.’;

Starnoun

A star-shaped ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or honour.

Playverb

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

‘You can play the DVD now.’;

Starnoun

A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding in the air, presents a starlike appearance.

Playverb

To be performed; to be shown.

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

Starverb

(intransitive) To appear as a featured performer or headliner, especially in an entertainment program.

Playverb

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

Starverb

(transitive) To feature a performer or a headliner, especially in a movie or an entertainment program.

Playverb

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

‘to play a comedy’;

Starverb

(transitive) To mark with a star or asterisk.

Playverb

(heading) To behave in a particular way.

Starverb

(transitive) To set or adorn with stars, or bright, radiating bodies; to bespangle.

Playverb

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

Starnoun

One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon, comets, and nebulæ.

‘His eyen twinkled in his head aright,As do the stars in the frosty night.’;

Playverb

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

Starnoun

The polestar; the north star.

Playverb

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

Starnoun

A planet supposed to influence one's destiny; (usually pl.) a configuration of the planets, supposed to influence fortune.

‘O malignant and ill-brooding stars.’; ‘Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury.’;

Playverb

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

‘to play tricks’;

Starnoun

That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or honor.

‘On whom . . . Lavish Honor showered all her stars.’;

Playverb

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

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

Starnoun

Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an asterisk [thus, *]; - used as a reference to a note, or to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc.

Playverb

(intransitive) To move gaily; to disport.

Starnoun

A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding in the air, presents a starlike appearance.

Playverb

(transitive) To put in action or motion.

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

Starnoun

A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially on public occasions, as a distinguished orator, a leading theatrical performer, etc.

Playverb

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

Starverb

To set or adorn with stars, or bright, radiating bodies; to bespangle; as, a robe starred with gems.

Playverb

To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone.

‘You played me!’;

Starverb

To be bright, or attract attention, as a star; to shine like a star; to be brilliant or prominent; to play a part as a theatrical star.

Playnoun

Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.

‘Children learn through play.’;

Starnoun

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

Playnoun

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

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

Starnoun

someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

Playnoun

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

Starnoun

any celestial body visible (as a point of light) from the Earth at night

Playnoun

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

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

Starnoun

a plane figure with 5 or more points; often used as an emblem

Playnoun

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

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

Starnoun

an actor who plays a principal role

Playnoun

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

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

Starnoun

a performer who receives prominent billing

Playnoun

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

Starnoun

a star-shaped character * used in printing

Playnoun

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

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

Starnoun

the topology of a network whose components are connected to a hub

Playnoun

(countable) A theatrical performance featuring actors.

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

Starverb

feature as the star;

‘The movie stars Dustin Hoffman as an autistic man’;

Playnoun

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

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

Starverb

be the star in a performance

Playnoun

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

Starverb

mark with an asterisk;

‘Linguists star unacceptable sentences’;

Playnoun

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

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

Staradjective

indicating the most important performer or role;

‘the leading man’; ‘prima ballerina’; ‘prima donna’; ‘a star figure skater’; ‘the starring role’; ‘a stellar role’; ‘a stellar performance’;

Playnoun

Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.

Star

A star is an astronomical object consisting of a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its own gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun.

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.

‘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.’;

Playverb

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

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

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.

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

Playverb

To act; to behave; to practice deception.

‘His mother played false with a smith.’;

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.

‘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.’;

Playverb

To act on the stage; to personate a character.

‘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.’;

Playverb

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

‘John naturally loved rough play.’;

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.

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

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.

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

Playnoun

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

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

Playnoun

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

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

Playnoun

a theatrical performance of a drama;

‘the play lasted two hours’;

Playnoun

a preset plan of action in team sports;

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

Playnoun

a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill;

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

Playnoun

a state in which action is feasible;

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

Playnoun

utilization or exercise;

‘the play of the imagination’;

Playnoun

an attempt to get something;

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

Playnoun

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

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

Playnoun

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

‘rain stopped play in the 4th inning’;

Playnoun

the removal of constraints;

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

Playnoun

a weak and tremulous light;

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

Playnoun

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

‘he became a figure of fun’;

Playnoun

movement or space for movement;

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

Playnoun

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

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

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);

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

Playnoun

the activity of doing something in an agreed succession;

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

Playnoun

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

Playverb

participate in games or sport;

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

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

play on an instrument;

‘The band played all night long’;

Playverb

play a role or part;

‘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’;

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

replay (as a melody);

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

Playverb

perform music on (a musical instrument);

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

Playverb

pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind;

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

Playverb

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

‘The spotlights played on the politicians’;

Playverb

bet or wager (money);

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

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

emit recorded sound;

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

Playverb

perform on a certain location;

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

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

behave in a certain way;

‘play safe’; ‘play it safe’; ‘play fair’;

Playverb

cause to emit recorded sounds;

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

Playverb

manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination;

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

Playverb

use to one's advantage;

‘She plays on her clients' emotions’;

Playverb

consider not very seriously;

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

Playverb

be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way;

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

Playverb

behave carelessly or indifferently;

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

Playverb

cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space;

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

Playverb

perform on a stage or theater;

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

Playverb

be performed;

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

Playverb

cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;

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

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

make bets;

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

Playverb

stake on the outcome of an issue;

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

Playverb

shoot or hit in a particular manner;

‘She played a good backhand last night’;

Playverb

use or move;

‘I had to play my queen’;

Playverb

employ in a game or in a specific position;

‘They played him on first base’;

Playverb

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

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

Playverb

exhaust by allowing to pull on the line;

‘play a hooked fish’;