player

I. play‧a /ˈpleɪjʌ/ BrE AmE (also player) noun [countable] spoken informal
a man who is good at meeting women and persuading them to have sex with him
II. play‧er S2 W1 /ˈpleɪə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑play, ↑interplay, ↑replay, ↑player, ↑playfulness; verb: ↑play, ↑outplay, ↑replay; adjective: ↑playful, ↑playable; adverb: ↑playfully]
1. someone who takes part in a game or sport:
a basketball player
2. one of the important people, companies, countries etc that is involved in and influences a situation, especially one involving competition
a major/dominant/key etc player
a firm that is a dominant player on Wall Street
player in/on
a key player in world affairs
3. a CD/record/video etc player a machine that is used to play CDs, videos etc
4. someone who plays a musical instrument:
a guitar player
5. a man who has sexual relationships with many different women
6. old-fashioned an actor
⇨ key mover/player at ↑key²

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

player

play·er [player players] [ˈpleɪə(r)] [ˈpleɪər] noun
1. a person who takes part in a game or sport
• a tennis/rugby/chess, etc. player
• a game for four players
• a midfield player

• We've lost two key players through injury.

2. a company or person involved in a particular area of business or politics
• The company has emerged as a major player in the London property market.

see also team player

3. (in compounds) a machine for reproducing sound or pictures that have been recorded on CDs, etc

• a CD/DVD/cassette/record player

4. (usually in compounds) a person who plays a musical instrument

• a trumpet player

5. (old-fashioned) (especially in names) an actor
• Phoenix Players present ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Thesaurus:
player noun C
• She's one of the country's top tennis players.
athlete • • runner • |especially BrE sportsman • • sportswoman • • sportsperson • |AmE, informal, sometimes disapproving jock •
a top/great/keen player/athlete/runner/sportsman, etc.
a/an all-round/amateur/professional player/athlete/sportsman, etc.
a/an player/athlete/runner/sportsman, etc. competes (in sth)
Example Bank:
• The club was forced to sell their star player.
• The team has drafted some good players in recent years.
• Their company is a major player in the London property market.
• These boots are for the professional rather than for the average player.
• one of the country's top tennis players
• At that time, he was one of the most famous baseball players in America.
• He proved an excellent chess player.
• She's a former international netball player for New Zealand.
• They're both attacking players who've scored 37 of the team's 40 goals this season.

• We've lost two key players through injury.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

player / ˈpleɪ.ə r / / -ɚ / noun [ C ] (SOUNDS/PICTURES)

A2 a person who plays a musical instrument:

a recorder/piano player

A2 a machine for playing music, sound, or pictures:

a CD/DVD player

player / ˈpleɪ.ə r / / -ɚ / noun [ C ] (ACTING)

old use an actor used in the names of some theatre companies:

the Shakespeare Players

player / ˈpleɪ.ə r / / -ɚ / noun [ C ] (GAME)

A1 someone who takes part in a game or sport:

Each player takes three cards.

The team has many talented players.

someone who is very involved in an activity or organization:

She was a leading/key player in the reorganization of the health service.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

player

[ple͟ɪə(r)]

players
1) N-COUNT A player in a sport or game is a person who takes part, either as a job or for fun.
  ...his greatness as a player...
  She was a good golfer and tennis player.
  ...top chess-players.
2) N-COUNT You can use player to refer to a musician. For example, a piano player is someone who plays the piano.
  ...a professional trumpet player.
3) N-COUNT: oft supp N, N in n If a person, country, or organization is a player in something, they are involved in it and important in it.
  Big business has become a major player in the art market...
  America is not a party to the negotiations, yet it is a key player...
4) N-COUNT A player is an actor.
  ...a company of players...
  Oscar nominations went to all five leading players.
5) → See also cassette player, CD player, record player, team player

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

player

play·er /ˈplejɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count]
1 : a person who plays a sport or game
• She's one of the team's best players.
• a star baseball player
• professional poker players
- see also team player
2 : a person who performs music usually on a particular instrument
• The band's lead guitar player hurt his hand and couldn't play.
• Piano players are called pianists.
3 : a machine that causes recorded sounds or pictures to be heard or seen
• a record/DVD/CD player
4 : a person who participates in a usually competitive field or activity
• She is a key/major/top player in genetics research.
• one of the industry's inside players
5 old-fashioned : an actor or actress
• a traveling band of players
• Even the movie's bit players [=people who perform very small roles] are excellent.
6 US slang : a person and especially a man who has sexual relationships with more than one person at the same time
• That guy's a player.