Play, v. t.
1. 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. --Herbert.
2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.
3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.
4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.
Nature here
Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will
Her virgin fancies. --Milton.
5. 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. --Sir W. Scott.
6. 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.
7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
To play hob, to play the part of a mischievous spirit; to work mischief.
To play off, to display; to show; to put in exercise; as, to play off tricks.
To play one's cards, to manage one's means or opportunities; to contrive.
Played out, tired out; exhausted; at the end of one's resources. [Colloq.]
played out
adj 1: drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired;
completely exhausted; "the day's shopping left her
exhausted"; "he went to bed dog-tired"; "was fagged
and sweaty"; "the trembling of his played out limbs";
"felt completely washed-out"; "only worn-out horses
and cattle"; "you look worn out" [syn: exhausted, dog-tired,
fagged, fatigued, spent, washed-out, worn-out(a),
worn out(p)]
2: worn out; "a played out deck of cards"