/pleɪ ||; ple/verb1 [I] play (with sb/sth) to do sth to enjoy yourself; to have fun 玩；玩耍；游乐: The children have been playing on the beach all day. 孩子们整天都在沙滩上玩耍。Emma's found a new friend to play with. 埃玛找到一个可以跟她一起玩耍的新朋友。
2 [I,T] to take part in a game or sport 参与（游戏、体育运动或比赛） [T] to play football/tennis/hockey 踢足球；打网球；打曲棍球: I usually play against Bill. 我通常以比尔为对手。She played him at table tennis and won. 她跟他打乒乓球赢了。Do you know how to play chess? 你会下棋吗？Who's Brazil playing next in the World Cup? 巴西队在世界杯中接下来跟哪个队比赛？
3 [I,T] play (sth) (on sth) to make music with a musical instrument 演奏（乐器） [T] to play the piano/guitar/trumpet 弹钢琴；弹吉他；吹小号: My son's learning the piano. He plays very well. 我的儿子正在学弹钢琴，他弹得很好。She played a few notes on the violin. 她用小提琴拉了几个音。 ☞Look at the note at piano. 参看piano的注释。
4 [T] to turn on a video, tape, etc so that it produces sound 播放（录像、录音带等）: Shall I play the CD for you again? 我把那张激光唱片再放一遍给你听好吗？
5 [I,T] to act in a play, film, television programme, etc; to act the role of sb （在戏剧、电影、电视节目等中）扮演（角色）；演（戏） · Richard is going to play Romeo. 理查德德将扮演罗密欧。
Play a part, role, etc is often used in a figurative way Britain has played an active part in the recent discussions. John played a key role in organizing the protest. play a part／role等常用作比喻：Britain has played an active role in the recent discussions.在近期的讨论中，英国起了积极的作用。·John played a key role in organizing the protest.约翰在组织那次抗议活动中扮演了重要的角色。 6 [I] (formal 正式) to move quickly and lightly 轻快地移动: Sunlight played on the surface of the sea. 阳光在海面上闪烁。
For idioms containing play, look at the entries for the nouns, adjectives, etc, for example play it by ear is at ear. 含play的习语，参看有关名词、形容词等词条，如play it by ear可参看词条ear。 play at sth/being sth to do sth with little interest or effort 不太热心、不认真或敷衍地做:
He's only playing at studying. He'd prefer to get a job now. 他读书只是敷衍而已，他现在更想找一份工作。What is that driver playing at (= doing)? 那个司机究竟在做什么？ play sth back (to sb) to turn on and watch or listen to a film, tape, etc that you have recorded 播放，看，听（录好的电影、录音带等）:
Play that last scene back to me again. 把最后那个片断再放一遍给我看。 play sth down to make sth seem less important than it really is 降低某事物的重要性；淡化:
to play down a crisis 把危机的严重性讲得轻些 play A off against B to make people compete or argue with each other, especially for your own advantage 使两人相争或相斗（尤指以便从中得到好处）:
I think she enjoys playing one friend off against another. 我认为她喜欢挑拨朋友之间的关系。 play on sth to use and take advantage of sb's fears or weaknesses 利用（某人的恐惧或弱点）:
This advertising campaign plays on people's fears of illness. 这项广告活动利用人们对疾病的恐惧心理。 play (sb) up(
informal 非正式) to cause sb trouble or pain 给某人带来麻烦或痛苦:
The car always plays up in wet weather. 这辆汽车总是在下雨天出毛病。