play noun
1 activity done for fun
ADJ. outdoor | creative, imaginative, pretend
PLAY + NOUN area | equipment | scheme The local council runs some good play schemes.
PREP. at ~ Children spend hours at play. | in ~ I only said it in play (= not seriously).
2 drama
ADJ. one-act | radio, television | musical | miracle, morality, mystery, nativity, passion The children always perform a nativity play every Christmas.
VERB + PLAY review The play is reviewed in most of today's papers.
PREP. ~ about a play about teenage runaways > Note at PERFORMANCE(for more verbs)
3 in sport
ADJ. excellent, good | fair | dangerous, dirty, foul, rough, violent He was sent off for foul play.
VERB + PLAY stop Rain stopped play 40 minutes into the match.
PREP. in ~ The ball is still in play. | out of ~ He kicked the ball out of play.
PHRASES at close/start of play (in cricket) At close of play he had scored 38 not out.
play verb
1 of children
VERB + PLAY let sb The other children wouldn't let him play.
PREP. at Let's play at pirates! | with a little girl playing with her toys
2 game/sport
ADV. brilliantly, excellently, superbly, well | badly
VERB + PLAY learn to | teach sb to | be difficult to, be easy to | see sb, watch sb
PREP. against United are difficult to play against. | at I've never played John at tennis. | for He plays for Aston Villa. | in She has played in every match this season. | with playing cards with her mother
3 music
ADV. brilliantly, excellently, superbly, well | badly | live The band will be playing live in the studio.
VERB + PLAY learn to learning to play the violin | teach sb to | be easy to, be difficult to a piece that is relatively easy to play | hear sb Have you ever heard her play?
You can also check other dicts: play (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition