[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/play/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / play # play verb (play, plays, played, playing); noun (a play, plays; play — uncountable) «play» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To play is to do something for fun, like a game or a sport. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#m1) 2. To play music is to make it with an instrument or to turn it on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#m2) 3. To play a part is to act as a character in a show. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#m3) 4. A play is a story acted on a stage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#m4) 5. Play is time spent having fun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#m5) ### In the lessons an activity: games played, minutes played, people playing; also a show on a stage; phrases «play with», «play against», «play fair», «play a trick», «playtime», «role-play» ### Examples - The team played 22 games. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x1) - He plays for 30 minutes each day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x2) - 12 children are playing in the park. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x3) - How many games did they play in all? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x4) - She plays the violin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x5) - Our class put on a play about pirates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x6) - He played the wolf in the play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x7) - Let's play hide-and-seek. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x8) - Play fair and take turns. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x9) - Press play to start the song. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/#x10) ### Note An activity, little clue by itself. «each day» with it makes a rate. Trap: «games played» is a total of wins and losses (and ties). Past form «played». «Play a trick on someone» is a joke on them; keep tricks kind and safe. ## In Jewish tradition Playing the harlot means acting unfaithfully and shamefully. In the Writings it also means to play with or tease, to play music, or to be joyful, as Wisdom plays in the world. **Interpretation.** In Sefer Yetzirah each simple letter matches a function of living, and play is named among them. The priest's daughter law shows that a priest's family must keep special holiness. Proverbs' playing Wisdom is read as the Torah delighting in creation. ### Examples - And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire. (Torah LEV.21.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/play/#x1) - == Chapter 5 == \[5:1\] Twelve Simple Letters, Heh-Waw Zayin-Chet Tet-Yod Lamed-Nun ʽAyin-Samekh Tzadi-Qof—Their foundation is Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Talking, Eating, Sex, Work, Movement, Excitement, Play, Contemplation, Sleep. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/play/#x2) - We must therefore assume that the Sefer Yetzirah considers n to play the same part among the vowel letters as zero does among numerals. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/play/#x3) - Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? (Writings JOB.40.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/play/#x4) - Sing unto Him a new song; play skilfully amid shouts of joy. (Writings PSA.33.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/play/#x5) - Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men. (Writings PRO.8.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/play/#x6) ### Note An activity, little clue by itself. «each day» with it makes a rate. Trap: «games played» is a total of wins and losses (and ties). Past form «played». «Play a trick on someone» is a joke on them; keep tricks kind and safe. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «play» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/play/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«play» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/play.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «play» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/play/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«play» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/play.html) on Mova free.