A1 (Basic)

excited

excited [adjective]

feeling very happy and enthusiastic

/ɪkˈsaɪ.t̬ɪd/

/ɪkˈsaɪ.tɪd/

Example:

Are you getting excited about your holiday?

Oxford Essential Dictionary

excited

adjective
not calm, for example because you are happy about something that is going to happen:
He's getting very excited about his holiday.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

excited

ex‧cit‧ed /ɪkˈsaɪtəd, ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: adjective: ↑excitable, ↑excited, ↑exciting ≠ ↑unexciting, ↑excitable; noun: ↑excitement, ↑excitability; adverb: ↑excitedly, ↑excitingly; verb: ↑excite]
1. happy, interested, or hopeful because something good has happened or will happen:
Steve flies home tomorrow – we’re all really excited.
excited about
Maria’s starting to get pretty excited about the wedding.
excited by/at
We’re all excited by the prospect of a party.
excited to do something
Michelle sounded excited to hear from him.
excited (that)
I’m so excited that we’re going to New York.
The food was nothing to get excited about (=not very good or special).
excited crowds of shoppers
2. very nervous and upset about something so that you cannot relax
excited about
There’s no point getting excited about it. We can’t change things.
3. feeling sexual desire
—excitedly adverb:
People had gathered and were talking excitedly.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ excited feeling happy, especially about something good that has happened or is going to happen: He’s excited about his new job. | The kids always get excited on their birthday. | An excited crowd watched their team win 3–0. | When we get home, the dogs are always excited to see us. | Doctors are very excited by the discovery.
▪ thrilled /θrɪld/ [not before noun] very excited and pleased: She was thrilled to hear that you were in London. | I was thrilled when they told me that I’d got a place on the course.
▪ exhilarated /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtəd, ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪd/ [not before noun] very excited and full of energy, especially because you are experiencing something new or something that involves risks: She felt exhilarated by her new freedom. | The climb left him feeling exhilarated.
▪ look forward to something to feel excited about something good that is going to happen and to think about it a lot: The kids are looking forward to their vacation – they’ve never been to California before. | She’s really looking forward to meeting him.
▪ can’t wait to do something especially spoken to be very excited about something good that is going to happen: I can’t wait to see him again.
▪ on the edge of your seat extremely excited and interested when you are watching a film, game etc, because you do not know what is going to happen next: I was on the edge of my seat throughout the movie. | The game kept fans on the edge of their seats.
▪ on tenterhooks /ˈtentəhʊks $ -ər-/ very excited and nervous because you are waiting to find out what has happened: Don’t keep us on tenterhooks! Did you pass your test?
▪ rapturous [usually before noun] especially written rapturous behaviour shows that a large group of people are extremely excited and pleased: They received a rapturous welcome. | He came on the stage to rapturous applause (=everyone was clapping and cheering).

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

excited

ex·cited [ɪkˈsaɪtɪd] [ɪkˈsaɪtɪd] adjective
1. feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm
• ~ (about sth) The children were excited about opening their presents.
• ~ (at sth) I'm really excited at the prospect of working abroad.
• ~ (by sth) Don't get too excited by the sight of your name in print.
• ~ (to do sth) He was very excited to be asked to play for Wales.
• The new restaurant is nothing to get excited about (= not particularly good).

• An excited crowd of people gathered around her.

2. nervous or upset and unable to relax

• Some horses become excited when they're in traffic.

3. feeling sexual desire
Syn: aroused
Derived Word: excitedly
Thesaurus:
excited [excited excitedly] adj.
• The kids are excited about the trip.
ecstatic • • elated • • exhilarated • • rapturous • • euphoric •
excited/ecstatic/elated/euphoric at sth
excited/ecstatic/elated about sth
feel excited/elated/exhilarated/euphoric
Synonyms:
excited
ecstatic • elated • euphoric • rapturous • exhilarated
These words all describe feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm.
excited • feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm: ▪ The kids were excited about the holiday.
ecstatic • very happy, excited and enthusiastic; showing this enthusiasm: ▪ Sally was ecstatic about her new job.
elated • happy and excited because of sth good that has happened or will happen: ▪ I was elated with the thrill of success.
euphoric • very happy and excited, but usually only for a short time: ▪ My euphoric mood could not last.
rapturous • expressing extreme pleasure or enthusiasm: ▪ He was greeted with rapturous applause.
exhilarated • happy and excited, especially after physical activity: ▪ She felt exhilarated with the speed.
to feel excited/elated/euphoric/exhilarated
to be excited/ecstatic/elated/euphoric at sth
to be excited/ecstatic/elated about sth
to be excited/elated/exhilarated by sth
to be ecstatic/elated/exhilarated with sth
Example Bank:
• Don't get the children too excited.
• He was all excited about his new car.
• He was puzzled but strangely excited by the commotion.
• Maura tried not to look overly excited.
• The kids seem pretty excited about the holiday.
• excited at the news
• He was really excited to be asked to play for Wales.

• The buzz of excited chatter was quite deafening.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

excited / ɪkˈsaɪ.tɪd / / -t̬ɪd / adjective

A1 feeling very happy and enthusiastic:

Are you getting excited about your holiday?

An excited crowd waited for the singer to arrive.

excitedly / -li / adverb

She ran excitedly down the hall to greet her cousins.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

excited

/ɪksaɪtɪd/

1.
If you are excited, you are so happy that you cannot relax, especially because you are thinking about something pleasant that is going to happen to you.
I’m very excited about the possibility of playing for England’s first team...
I was so excited when I went to sign the paperwork I could hardly write.
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n
• ex‧cit‧ed‧ly
‘You’re coming?’ he said excitedly. ‘That’s fantastic! That’s incredible!’
ADV: ADV with v

2.
If you are excited, you are very worried or angry about something, and so you are very alert and cannot relax.
I don’t think there’s any reason to get excited about inflation...
= agitated
ADJ
• ex‧cit‧ed‧ly
Larry rose excitedly to the edge of his seat, shook a fist at us and spat.
ADV: ADV with v

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

excited

excited adj [more ~; most ~] : very enthusiastic and eager about something
• They were excited about/over the trip.
• We were excited (to hear) that they were getting married.
• The children were excited before the school play.

American English

British English

excited - interested and enthusiastic

A1 (Basic)

adjective

English translation unavailable for foot ‍.

plate

plate [noun] (DISH)

a flat, usually round dish with a slightly raised edge that you eat from or serve food from

/pleɪt/

Example:

There's still lots of food on your plate.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

plate

noun
a round dish that you put food on Look also at number plate.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

plate

I. plate¹ S2 W2 /pleɪt/ BrE AmE noun
[Sense 1,3,7: Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: plat 'plate, dish', from plat 'flat', from Vulgar Latin plattus, probably from Greek platys 'broad, flat']
[Sense 2, 4-5,8-11: Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: plat 'flat']
[Sense 6: Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Partly from Old French plat 'plate, piece of silver', partly from Old Spanish plata 'silver']
1. FOOD [countable]
a) a flat and usually round dish that you eat from or serve food on:
The plates were piled high with rice.
a dinner plate
b) (also plateful) the amount of food that is on a plate
plate of
He’s eaten a whole plate of french fries.
► Do not use plate when you mean ‘food cooked in a particular way as a meal’. Use dish: the chef who created this dish (NOT this plate)
2. SIGN [countable] a flat piece of metal with words or numbers on it, for example on a door or a car:
The brass plate on the door said ‘Dr Rackman’.
number/license/registration plate (=on a car)
Did anyone see the car’s license plate? ⇨ ↑L-plate, ↑nameplate
3. have a lot/enough on your plate informal to have a lot of problems to deal with or problems to worry about
4. PROTECTIVE COVERING [countable]
a) technical one of the thin sheets of bone, horn etc that covers and protects the outside of some animals
b) a thin sheet of metal used to protect something
metal/steel/iron plates
The shoes had metal plates attached to the heels.
5. EARTH’S SURFACE [countable] technical one of the very large sheets of rock that form the surface of the Earth ⇨ ↑plate tectonics
6. GOLD/SILVER
a) gold/silver plate ordinary metal with a thin covering of gold or silver
b) [uncountable] things such as plates, cups, forks, or knives made of gold or silver
7. hand/give/offer somebody something on a plate to let someone get or achieve something easily, without much effort from them:
I worked hard for what I’ve got. It wasn’t handed to me on a plate.
8. PICTURES/PHOTOS [countable]
a) a sheet of metal that has been cut or treated in a special way so that words or pictures can be printed from its surface:
copper printing plates
b) a picture in a book, printed on good-quality paper and usually coloured
c) a thin sheet of glass used especially in the past in photography, with chemicals on it that are sensitive to light
9. BASEBALL [countable usually singular] the place where the person hitting the ball stands
10. COMPETITION the ... Plate used in the names of sports competitions or races in which the winner gets a silver plate:
This horse won the Galway Plate.
11. TEETH [countable]
a) a thin piece of plastic shaped to fit inside a person’s mouth, into which ↑false teeth are fixed
b) British English a thin piece of plastic with wires fixed to it, that some people wear in their mouth to make their teeth straight SYN brace British English
⇨ ↑hotplate

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

plate

plate [plate plates plated plating] noun, verb [pleɪt] [pleɪt]

noun

FOOD
1. countable a flat, usually round, dish that you put food on
• sandwiches on a plate
• a pile of dirty plates
• dinner plates
2. countable the amount of food that you can put on a plate
• a plate of sandwiches
• two large plates of pasta

compare plateful

3. countable (especially NAmE) a whole main course of a meal, served on one plate

• Try the seafood plate.

FOR STRENGTH

4. countable a thin flat piece of metal, used especially to join or make sth stronger
• The tanks were mainly constructed of steel plates.

• She had a metal plate inserted in her arm.

FOR INFORMATION

5. countable a flat piece of metal with some information on it, for example sb's name
• A brass plate beside the door said ‘Dr Alan Tate’.

see also nameplate

ON VEHICLE

6. usually plural the pieces of metal or plastic at the front and back of a vehicle with numbers and letters on it

see also L-plate, license plate, number plate

SILVER/GOLD

7. uncountable ordinary metal that is covered with a thin layer of silver or gold
• The cutlery is plate, not solid silver.

see also gold plate, silver plate, tinplate

8. uncountable dishes, bowls, etc. that are made of silver or gold

• the family plate

ON ANIMAL

9. countable (biology) one of the thin flat pieces of horn or bone that cover and protect an animal

• the armadillo's protective shell of bony plates

GEOLOGY

10. countable one of the very large pieces of rock that form the earth's surface and move slowly
• the Pacific plate
• Earthquakes are caused by two tectonic plates bumping into each other.

see also plate tectonics

PRINTING/PHOTOGAPHY

11. countable a photograph that is used as a picture in a book, especially one that is printed on a separate page on high quality paper
• The book includes 55 colour plates.

• See plate 4.

12. countable a sheet of metal, plastic, etc. that has been treated so that words or pictures can be printed from it

• a printing plate

13. countable a thin sheet of glass, metal, etc. that is covered with chemicals so that it reacts to light and can form an image, used in larger or older cameras

IN MOUTH
14. countable a thin piece of plastic with wire or artificial teeth attached to it which fits inside your mouth in order to make your teeth straight

compare brace, dentures

IN BASEBALL

15. singular (NAmE) = home plate

IN CHURCH
16. (usually the plate) singular a flat dish that is used to collect money from people in a church
see also bookplate, breastplate, footplate, hotplate
more at hand sth to sb on a plate at hand _v., step up to the plate at step _v.
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting a flat, thin sheet, usually of metal): from Old French, from medieval Latin plata ‘plate armour’, based on Greek platus ‘flat’. Senses 1 to 3 represent Old French plat ‘platter, large dish’, also ‘dish of meat’, noun use of Old French plat ‘flat’.
Thesaurus:
plate noun C
• He barely touched the food on his plate.
dish • • bowl • • platter •
a plate/dish/bowl/platter of sth
on a plate/dish/platter
fill a plate/dish/bowl/platter
Example Bank:
• I could see how hungry she was from the way she cleared her plate.
• She ate everything on her plate.
• The driver was arrested for having false licence/license plates on his car.
• The sink was full of dirty plates.
• a plate of rice
• He barely touched the food on his plate.
• He came in carrying a plate of sandwiches.
• The set includes four dinner plates, four side plates and four soup bowls.
• There was an enormous pile of dirty plates in the kitchen sink.
• There were two large plates of pasta on the table.
• We used plastic cutlery and ate off paper plates.
• a vehicle's license plates

Idiom: have a lot much on your plate

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

plate / pleɪt / noun (DISH)

A1 [ C ] a flat, usually round dish with a slightly raised edge that you eat from or serve food from:

paper/plastic/china plates

a dinner/salad plate

clean/dirty plates

There's still lots of food on your plate.

[ C ] ( also plateful ) an amount of food on a plate:

Stephen ate three plates of spaghetti.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

plate

[ple͟ɪt]
♦♦♦
plates
1) N-COUNT A plate is a round or oval flat dish that is used to hold food.
  Anita pushed her plate away; she had eaten virtually nothing.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
A plate of food is the amount of food on the plate. ...a huge plate of bacon and eggs.
2) N-COUNT A plate is a flat piece of metal, especially on machinery or a building.
3) N-COUNT A plate is a small, flat piece of metal with someone's name written on it, which you usually find beside the front door of an office or house.
4) N-PLURAL On a road vehicle, the plates are the panels at the front and back which display the license number in the United States, and the registration number in Britain.
→ See also number plate, license plate
  ...dusty-looking cars with New Jersey plates.
5) N-UNCOUNT Plate is dishes, bowls, and cups that are made of precious metal, especially silver or gold.
  ...gold and silver plate, jewellery, and roomfuls of antique furniture.
6) N-COUNT In printing, a plate is a sheet of metal which is carved or specially treated with chemicals so that it can be used to print text or pictures.
7) N-COUNT In photography, a plate is a thin sheet of glass that is covered with a layer of chemicals which react to the light and on which an image can be formed.
8) N-COUNT A plate in a book is a picture or photograph which takes up a whole page and is usually printed on better quality paper than the rest of the book.
  Fermor's book has 55 colour plates.
  Syn:
  illustration
9) N-COUNT In a microscope, the plate is a small rectangular piece of glass onto which you put a small amount of the substance that you want to look at. You then slide the plate under the microscope to look at the substance.
  Syn:
  slide
10) N-COUNT A dental plate is a piece of plastic which is shaped to fit inside a person's mouth and which a set of false teeth is attached to.
11) N-COUNT In geology, a plate is a large piece of the earth's surface, perhaps as large as a continent, which moves very slowly. [TECHNICAL]
  The United States Geological Survey has revealed that the earthquake was not caused by a simple horizontal movement of one plate past another.
12) N-COUNT: usu the N in sing In baseball, the plate is the same as the home plate. [AM]
13) PHRASE: V inflects If you have enough on your plate or have a lot on your plate, you have a lot of work to do or a lot of things to deal with.
  We have enough on our plate. There is plenty of work to be done on what we have.
14) PHRASE: V inflects (disapproval) If you say that someone has things handed to them on a plate, you disapprove of them because they get good things easily. [mainly BRIT]
  Even the presidency was handed to him on a plate.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

plate

²plate verb plates; plat·ed; plat·ing [+ obj]
1 : to add a layer of metal to the outside of (something) - usually used as (be) plated
• The tin cups were plated with silver.
2 baseball : to cause (a run or a runner) to score
• His second hit plated [=drove in] two runs.

¹plate /ˈpleɪt/ noun, pl plates
1 [count]
a : a flat and usually round dish that is used for eating or serving food
• plates, bowls, and cups
• a paper plate
• fancy dinner/salad/bread/dessert plates
• a large serving plate [=platter]
• pie plates [=plates used to hold pies]
- see picture at place setting
b : the food that is served on a plate
• a plate of cheese and crackers
• a fruit/vegetable/meat plate [=a plate filled with different fruits/vegetables/meats]
• I ate a salad and a plate of spaghetti.
2 [count] : a thin, flat piece of metal
• A shiny metal plate was screwed to the door.
• He had a steel plate put in his shoulder after the accident.
• a plate of armor
- see also breastplate, nameplate
3 [count] : license plate
- usually plural
• a car with New York plates
4 [count] : one of the usually flat, hard pieces that cover the body of some animals
• a dinosaur covered in bony plates
5 [singular] : a dish or small container used in some churches to collect money
• They passed around the plate during services.
• the collection plate
6 the plate baseball : home plate
• The runner was tagged out at the plate.
- see also step up to the plate (below)
7 [count] geology : one of the very large sections of the Earth's surface that are believed to move and cause earthquakes where they touch each other - see also plate tectonics
8 [noncount]
a : metal that is covered with a thin layer of gold or silver
• gold/silver plate
b : objects (such as dishes, knives, forks, etc.) that are covered with a thin layer of gold or silver
• The dishes were solid silver, not plate.
9 [count] : a special page in a book that has pictures on it
• The book is 500 pages long and contains over 50 color plates.
- see also bookplate
10 [count] : a surface of metal, plastic, or wood that is used in printing words or pictures on paper
• printing plates
11 [count] : a sheet of glass or plastic that is treated with a special chemical and used in photography
• photographic plates
12 [count] : the part of a set of false teeth that attaches to the mouth
• the upper/lower plate of a set of dentures
clean your plate
- see ²clean
on a plate informal : in a way that requires no effort : as a gift
• He was handed the job on a plate. [=he was given the job without having to do anything to earn it]
• The victory was handed to us on a plate.
on your plate informal
- used to refer to the things that a person has to do or deal with at one time
• She has a lot on her plate right now. [=she has a lot of things that she has to deal with right now]
• I've got enough on my plate to keep me busy this summer.
step up to the plate baseball : to move into position next to home plate in order to bat - often used figuratively in U.S. English
• He finally stepped up to the plate [=he finally took action] and asked her to marry him.
• If you want this promotion, you're going to have to step up to the plate. [=you will have to improve your work performance to show that you deserve the promotion]

- see also fashion plate

1. noun
a) A dish from which food is serve d or eat en.
I filled my plate from the bountiful table.
b) The contents of such a dish.
I ate a plate of beans.
2. verb
a) To cover the surface material of an object with a thin coat of another material, usually a metal.
This ring is plated with a thin layer of gold.
b) To place the various elements of a meal on the diners plate prior to serving.
After preparation, the chef will plate the dish.

plate (PICTURE) /pleɪt/plate

noun [C] SPECIALIZED
a picture, especially in colour, in a book:
The three birds differ in small features (see Plate 4).

American English

British English

bowls - dishes - bowls - cups and glasses

A1 (Basic)

noun

bike

bike [noun]

a bicycle

/baɪk/

Example:

It would be better for the environment if more people used bikes rather than cars.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

bike

noun (informal)
a bicycle or a motorbike:
I go to school by bike.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

bike

I. bike¹ S2 /baɪk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bicycle]
1. a bicycle:
Let’s go for a bike ride.
by bike
They’ll be coming by bike.
2. informal a ↑motorcycle
3. on your bike! British English spoken used to tell someone rudely to go away
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go somewhere by bike I usually go to work by bike.
▪ ride a bike Her Dad taught her to ride a bike and to drive.
▪ get on/off a bike He got off his bike and walked with her for a while.
▪ rent a bike (also hire a bike British English) You can rent bikes and explore the island's cycle paths.
■ types of bike
▪ a mountain bike (=a strong bicycle for riding over rough ground) They went out for a country ride on their mountain bikes.
▪ a racing bike He bought a cool new racing bike.
▪ an exercise bike (=used for exercising indoors) I usually go on the exercise bike and the rowing machine.
■ bike + NOUN
▪ a bike ride We used to go for long bike rides in the summer holidays.
▪ a bike race The Tour de France is a famous bike race.
▪ a bike shed They used to meet behind the bike sheds at school.
▪ a bike rack (=a metal frame that you can attach your bike to) All stations should provide bike racks for passengers.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

bike

bike [bike bikes biked biking] noun, verb [baɪk] [baɪk]

noun
(informal)
1. a bicycle
• She got on her bike and rode off.
• I usually go to work by bike.

see also mountain bike, pushbike, quad bike

2. a motorcycle
Word Origin:
late 19th cent.: abbreviation.
Example Bank:
• He got on his bike and rode off.
• She came off her bike when it skidded on some wet leaves.
• She pedalled her bike up the track.
• She tried to pedal her bike up the track.
• We had to push our bikes up the hill.
• We watched the boys on their bikes.
Idiom: on your bike!

Derived Word: biking

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

bike / baɪk / noun [ C ]

A1 a bicycle:

It would be better for the environment if more people used bikes rather than cars.

My youngest child is learning to ride a bike.

B1 informal a motorcycle

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

bike

[ba͟ɪk]
♦♦♦
bikes, biking, biked
1) N-COUNT A bike is a bicycle or a motorcycle. [INFORMAL]
2) VERB To bike somewhere means to go there on a bicycle. [INFORMAL]
[V adv/prep] I biked home from the beach.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹bike /ˈbaɪk/ noun, pl bikes [count]
1 : bicycle
• She rode her bike to school.
• a bike path
2 : motorcycle
- see also dirt bike, motorbike

beach

beach [noun]

an area of sand or small stones near the sea or another area of water such as a lake

/biːtʃ/

Example:

We spent the day on the beach.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

beach

noun (plural beaches)
a piece of land next to the sea that is covered with sand or stones:
a sandy beach
We lay on the beach in the sun.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

beach

I. beach¹ S2 W2 /biːtʃ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Perhaps from Old English bæce 'small stream']
an area of sand or small stones at the edge of the sea or a lake:
a sandy beach
surfers on the beach
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning )
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + beach
▪ crowded In the summer the beaches get very crowded.
▪ quiet (=with few people on it) The beaches on this side of the island are quieter.
▪ deserted/empty (=with no one on it) We took a boat to a deserted beach.
▪ a sandy beach Corfu is known for its sandy beaches.
▪ a shingle/pebble/pebbly beach (=covered with very small stones) Both resorts have small shingle beaches.
▪ a rocky beach (=with large rocks on it) They anchored the boat off a rocky beach.
▪ a long beach All around the coast of Lanzarote are long beaches of golden sand.
▪ a white/golden beach The house was beside a dazzling white beach.
▪ a private beach (=owned by someone, so you need permission to use it) The hotel has its own private beach.
▪ a public beach (=for everyone to use) The public beaches were very dirty.
■ verbs
▪ lie on the beach I find it boring just lying on the beach all day.
▪ go to the beach They've gone to the beach for the weekend.
▪ walk on/along the beach She loved to walk along the beach in the early morning.
■ beach + NOUN
▪ a beach holiday British English (=a holiday spent mainly at the beach) She loves beach holidays, while he prefers city breaks.
▪ a beach resort This is one of the most popular beach resorts in Greece.
▪ a beach hut (=a small building on the beach for storing things such as swimming or sports equipment) a row of brightly painted beach huts
▪ a beach bar/restaurant (=on the beach) We watched the sun go down from the beach bar.
▪ a beach towel They spread out beach towels and opened parasols.
▪ beach volleyball/football (=played on the beach) Who wants a game of beach volleyball?

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

beach

beach [beach beaches beached beaching] noun, verb [biːtʃ] [biːtʃ]

noun
an area of sand or small stones (called shingle), beside the sea or a lake
• tourists sunbathing on the beach
• a sandy/pebble/shingle beach
• a beach bar

Word Origin:
mid 16th cent. (denoting shingle on the seashore): perhaps related to Old English bæce, bece ‘brook’ (an element that survives in place names such as Wis bech and Sand bach), assuming an intermediate sense ‘pebbly river valley’.
Culture:
seaside and beach
In the 18th century British people started going to the seaside for pleasure and for their health. Seaside towns such as Brighton, Lyme Regis and Scarborough became fashionable with the upper class. Bathing in the sea became popular and bathing machines were invented for people to get changed in. Later, towns like Blackpool, Clacton-on-Sea and Margate, which were close to industrial areas or to London, developed into large seaside resorts to which workers went for a day out or for their holiday. Long piers were built stretching out to sea and soon had a wide range of amusements built on them. Promenades were built along the shore for people to walk along. Rows of beach huts and chalets (= buildings where people could get changed or sit and have tea) took the place of bathing machines, and deckchairs were for hire on the beach. There were ice-cream sellers, whelk stalls, stalls selling buckets and spades for children to build sandcastles, and the occasional Punch and Judy show. In the early 1900s it became popular to send seaside postcards to friends. Children bought seaside rock, a long sugary sweet with the name of the place printed through it.
Most British people like to go to the sea for a day out or for a weekend. Resorts like Blackpool are still popular, but others are run-down and rather quiet. British people now prefer to go on holiday to beach resorts in Spain, Greece or the Caribbean because the weather is more likely to be sunny and warm.
Americans talk of going to the ocean or the beach, rather than the seaside. Some places, especially on the East coast, have very popular beaches and people travel long distances to go there. Florida is especially popular and at spring break (= a holiday in the spring for high school and college students) it is full of students.
Beach activities include swimming, surfing and windsurfing, also called sailboarding. Many people go to the beach but never go into the water. They spend their time playing games like volleyball (= hitting a large ball backwards and forwards over a net) and Frisbee (= throwing a flat plastic disc). Other people go to the beach to get a tan and spend all their time sunbathing. Many people worry about getting skin cancer if they get burnt by the sun and so put on sun cream or sun block to protect their skin. A day at the beach often also involves a picnic meal or, especially in the US, a barbecue (= meat cooked over an open fire).
Thesaurus:
beach noun C
• They were sunbathing on the beach.
seashore • • sand • • shoreline • • lakeside • • shore • • coast • • coastline • |especially BrE seaside • • sea • |AmE ocean •
on the beach/seashore/sand/shoreline/lakeside/shore/coast/coastline
at the beach/seashore/coast/seaside
by the seashore/lakeside/shore/coast/seaside/sea/ocean
go to the beach/seashore/coast/seaside/sea/ocean
Beach or seashore? Beach is usually used about a sandy area next to the sea, where people lie in the sun or play. Seashore is used more to talk about the area by the sea where people walk for pleasure
• He liked to look for shells on the seashore.

Synonyms:
coast
beach • seaside • coastline • sand • seashore
These are all words for the land beside or near to the sea, a river or a lake.
coast • the land beside or near to the sea or ocean: ▪ a town on the south coast of England ◊ ▪ The coast road is closed due to bad weather.
It is nearly always the coast, except when it is uncountable: ▪ That's a pretty stretch of coast.
beach • an area of sand, or small stones, beside the sea or a lake: ▪ She took the kids to the beach for the day. ◊ ▪ sandy beaches
seaside • (especially BrE) an area that is by the sea, especially one where people go for a day or a holiday: ▪ a trip to the seaside
It is always the seaside, except when it is used before a noun: ▪ a seaside resort. The seaside is British English; in American English seaside is only used before a noun.
coastline • the land along a coast, especially when you are thinking of its shape or appearance: ▪ California's rugged coastline
sand • a large area of sand on a beach: ▪ We went for a walk along the sand. ◊ ▪ a resort with miles of golden sands
the seashore • the land along the edge of the sea or ocean, usually where there is sand and rocks: ▪ He liked to look for shells on the seashore.
beach or seashore?
Beach is usually used to talk about a sandy area next to the sea where people lie in the sun or play, for example when they are on holiday/vacation. Seashore is used more to talk about the area by the sea in terms of things such as waves, sea shells, rocks, etc, especially where people walk for pleasure.
along the coast/beach/coastline/seashore
on the coast/beach/coastline/sands/seashore
at the coast/beach/seaside/seashore
by the coast/seaside/seashore
a(n) rocky/unspoiled coast/beach/coastline
to go to the coast/beach/seaside/seashore
Example Bank:
• He walked along the beach.
• She lay on the beach and read her book.
• The island group has over 230 miles of pristine tropical beaches.
• They met at the beach.
• They sat on a grassy hill overlooking the beach.
• a beautiful golden beach stretching for miles
• She met him in a beach bar.
• She took the kids to the beach for the day.
• There are miles of beautiful sandy beaches.
• To the south is West Bay, a small port with a shingle beach.

• We could see tourists sunbathing on the beach.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

beach / biːtʃ / noun [ C ]

A1 an area of sand or small stones near the sea or another area of water such as a lake:

We spent the day on the beach.

a beach café

a beach towel

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

beach

[bi͟ːtʃ]
♦♦♦
beaches, beaching, beached
1) N-COUNT A beach is an area of sand or stones beside the sea.
  ...a beautiful sandy beach...
  I just want to lie on the beach in the sun.
  Syn:
  seashore
2) V-ERG If something such as a boat beaches, or if it is beached, it is pulled or forced out of the water and onto land.
  [V n] We beached the canoe, running it right up the bank...
  The boat beached on a mud flat...
  [V pron-refl] Experts are unable to explain why the whales beached themselves.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹beach /ˈbiːʧ/ noun, pl beach·es [count] : an area covered with sand or small rocks that is next to an ocean or lake
• We spent the day at the beach.
• walking/lying on the beach
• white, sandy beaches
• private/public beaches

English translation unavailable for cold.

hospital

hospital [noun]

a place where people who are ill or injured are treated and taken care of by doctors and nurses

/ˈhɑː.spɪ.t̬əl/

/ˈhɒs.pɪ.təl/

Example:

He is receiving hospital treatment.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

hospital

noun
a place where doctors and nurses look after people who are ill or hurt:
My brother is in hospital – he's broken his leg.
The ambulance took her to hospital.

word building
If you are very ill or you have an accident you go to hospital (Be careful! In British English, you do not say to the hospital). A doctor gives you treatment and you are called a patient. You might need to have an operation. The room in a hospital where people sleep is called a ward.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

hospital

hos‧pi‧tal S1 W1 /ˈhɒspɪtl $ ˈhɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin hospitale 'place to stay at', from Latin hospitalis 'of a guest', from hospes; ⇨ ↑host¹]
a large building where sick or injured people receive medical treatment:
They are building a new hospital.
in hospital British English:
She visited him in hospital.
in the hospital American English:
Two people are in the hospital with serious burns.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to hospital British English, go to the hospital American English The pain got worse and she had to go to the hospital.
▪ be taken/rushed/airlifted to hospital British English, be taken/rushed/airlifted to the hospital American English Three people were taken to hospital after a crash on the motorway.
▪ be admitted to hospital British English, be admitted to the hospital American English He was admitted to hospital suffering from chest pain.
▪ leave/come out of hospital British English, leave/come out of the hospital American English Her mother never left the hospital.
▪ be discharged/released from hospital British English, be discharged/released from the hospital American English (=be allowed to leave a hospital because you are better) It was several weeks before he was released from hospital.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + hospital
▪ a psychiatric hospital (also a mental hospital old-fashioned) (=for people with mental illnesses) He was admitted to a secure psychiatric hospital.
▪ a children’s hospital an important children’s hospital
▪ a maternity hospital British English (=for women having babies) Many maternity hospitals have been forced to close.
■ hospital + NOUN
▪ hospital treatment/care What do older people think of hospital care?
▪ a hospital stay (=the period someone spends in hospital) New surgical techniques mean a hospital stay of less than 48 hours.
▪ a hospital bed There is a shortage of hospital beds.
▪ a hospital ward/room nurses working on hospital wards
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ hospital a large building where sick or injured people receive medical treatment: He was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. | the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford | a mental hospital
▪ medical center American English a large hospital, which often has many different departments, including areas for research: a discovery by doctors at the New England Medical Center
▪ clinic a place, often in a hospital, where medical treatment and advice is given to people who do not need to stay in a hospital: a family-planning clinic (=which gives people help and advice about birth control) | a special clinic for people with drug and alcohol problems
▪ hospice a special hospital for people who are dying: They are hoping to raise funds to build a hospice for sick and dying children.
▪ nursing home/old people's home (also home) a place where people who are old and ill can live and be looked after, by nurses: She doesn't want to end up in a nursing home.
▪ sanatorium a place where people recovering after a long illness were sent in the past, so that they could rest and receive special care: He was sent to a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps.
■ parts of a hospital
▪ A&E/casualty British English, emergency room/ER American English the part of a hospital where people who are injured or who need urgent treatment are brought: A&E waiting times have gone down. | A 33-year-old man was brought to the emergency room in a coma.
▪ operating theatre British English, operating room American English a room in a hospital where operations are done: Mrs Barnett was in the operating theatre for 11 hours while the transplant was carried out.
▪ intensive care the part of a hospital where people who are very seriously ill or badly injured are cared for: Mr Dye is in intensive care with head injuries.
▪ unit part of a hospital where a particular kind of treatment is carried out: the burns unit | the fertility unit
▪ ward a large room in a hospital where people who need medical treatment stay: the women's ward | She works as a nurse on a busy hospital ward.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hospital

hos·pital [hospital hospitals] [ˈhɒspɪtl] [ˈhɑːspɪtl] noun
a large building where people who are ill/sick or injured are given medical treatment and care: (BrE) He had to go to hospital for treatment.
• (NAmE) He had to go to the hospital for treatment.
• to be admitted to (the) hospital
• to be discharged from (the) hospital
• The injured were rushed to (the) hospital in an ambulance.
• He died in (the) hospital.
• I'm going to the hospital to visit my brother.
• a psychiatric/mental hospital
• hospital doctors/nurses/staff
• There is an urgent need for more hospital beds.
see also cottage hospital
Word Origin:
Middle English (originally meaning a hospice run by the Knights Hospitallers in the 11th century): via Old French from medieval Latin hospitale, neuter of Latin hospitalis ‘hospitable’, from hospes, hospit- ‘host, guest’.
Thesaurus:
hospital noun C
• I'm going to the hospital to visit my brother.
infirmary • • clinic • • hospice • • sanatorium • |AmE medical center •
a private hospital/clinic/hospice/sanatorium/medical center
a/an eye/maternity/psychiatric hospital/clinic
go to/visit (the) hospital/a clinic
British/American:
hospital
In BrE you say to hospital or in hospital when you talk about somebody being there as a patient: ▪ I had to go to hospital. ◊ ▪ She spent two weeks in hospital.
In NAmE you need to use the: ▪ I had to go to the hospital. ◊ ▪ She spent two weeks in the hospital.
Example Bank:
• He has been readmitted to hospital.
• He is in hospital recovering from a heart operation.
• He was taken to hospital as a precaution.
• He's been taken to hospital for tests.
• He's had to go into hospital rather suddenly.
• How long will I have to stay in hospital?
• I used to work as a cleaner in a hospital.
• She came out of hospital this morning.
• She was rushed to hospital.
• She works at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
• We went to the hospital to visit my gran.
• He died in hospital.
• He was admitted to hospital complaining of chest pains.
• His delusions got worse until he was committed to a mental hospital.
• I had to go to hospital.
• I'm going to the hospital to visit my brother.
• She was discharged from hospital and allowed to go home.
• The injured were rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

• There is a shortage of hospital beds.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

hospital / ˈhɒs.pɪ.t ə l / / ˈhɑː.spɪ.t̬ ə l / noun [ C or U ]

A1 a place where people who are ill or injured are treated and taken care of by doctors and nurses:

a general/children's/maternity hospital

hospital patients/staff

UK I've got to go (in)to hospital ( US to the hospital) to have an operation.

UK She spent a week in hospital ( US in the hospital) last year.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

hospital

[hɒ̱spɪt(ə)l]
♦
hospitals
N-VAR
A hospital is a place where people who are ill are looked after by nurses and doctors.
  Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a children's hospital with 120 beds...
  A couple of weeks later my mother went into hospital...
  He may be able to leave hospital early next week.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

hospital

hos·pi·tal /ˈhɑːspɪtl̩/ noun, pl -tals [count] : a place where sick or injured people are given care or treatment and where children are often born
• (US) She's in the hospital. = (Brit) She's in hospital.
• (US) She was admitted to the hospital yesterday. = (Brit) She was admitted to hospital yesterday. [=she was hospitalized yesterday]
• (US) She'll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow. = (Brit) She'll be discharged from hospital tomorrow.
- often used before another noun
• hospital beds
• a hospital gown

American English

British English

medical places and organizations

A1 (Basic)

noun

shopping

shopping [noun]

the activity of buying things from shops

/ˈʃɑː.pɪŋ/

/ˈʃɒp.ɪŋ/

Example:

I'm going shopping this afternoon.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

shopping

noun (no plural)

1 buying things from shops:
She does her shopping after work.
I usually go shopping at the weekend.

2 the things that you have bought in a shop:
Will you carry my shopping for me?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

shopping

shop‧ping S2 W3 /ˈʃɒpɪŋ $ ʃɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑shop, ↑shopper, ↑shopping; verb: ↑shop]
1. the activity of going to shops and buying things:
Late-night shopping is becoming very popular.
shopping expedition/trip
She’s gone on a shopping trip to New York.
I went on a shopping spree (=went shopping and bought a lot of things) at the weekend and spent far too much money.
I’ve got to do some last-minute shopping.
the busy Christmas shopping season ⇨ ↑window-shopping
2. do the shopping to go shopping to buy food and other things you need regularly:
I hate doing the shopping at weekends.
3. British English the things that you have just bought from a shop:
Can you help me carry the shopping, please?
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go shopping She skipped lunch in order to go shopping.
▪ do some/the/your shopping I thought you wanted to do some shopping.
■ NOUN + shopping
▪ Christmas shopping So you've done all your Christmas shopping, have you?
▪ grocery shopping She even enjoys grocery shopping.
▪ home shopping (=buying things at home, for example from a catalogue)
■ shopping + NOUN
▪ a shopping expedition/trip His shopping trip with Uncle Billy had been a thorough success.
▪ a shopping spree (=when you buy a lot of things) He admits to going on a shopping spree with someone else's credit card.
▪ a shopping list (=a list of what you need to buy, especially of food) Always take a shopping list so you are not tempted to buy things you do not need.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

shopping

shop·ping [shopping] [ˈʃɒpɪŋ] [ˈʃɑːpɪŋ] noun uncountable
1. the activity of going to shops/stores and buying things
• to go shopping
• (BrE) When shall I do the shopping?
• (BrE) We do our shopping on Saturdays.
• a shopping basket
• a shopping trolley
• (NAmE) a shopping cart

see also window-shopping

2. (especially BrE) the things that you have bought from shops/stores
• to put the shopping in the car
Collocations:
Shopping
Shopping
go/go out/be out shopping
go to (especially BrE) the shops/(especially NAmE) a store/(especially NAmE) the mall
do (BrE) the shopping/(especially NAmE) the grocery shopping/a bit of window-shopping
(NAmE, informal) hit/hang out at the mall
try on clothes/shoes
indulge in some retail therapy
go on a spending spree
cut/cut back on/reduce your spending
be/get caught shoplifting
donate sth to/take sth to/find sth in (BrE) a charity shop/(NAmE) a thrift store
buy/sell/find sth at (BrE) a car boot sale/(BrE) a jumble sale/a garage sale/(NAmE) a yard sale
find/get/pick up a bargain
At the shop/store
load/push/wheel (BrE) a trolley/(NAmE) a cart
stand in/wait in (BrE) the checkout queue/(NAmE) the checkout line
(NAmE) stand in line/ (BrE) queue at the checkout
bag (especially NAmE) (your) groceries
pack (away) (especially BrE) your shopping
stack/stock/restock the shelves at a store (with sth)
be (found) on/appear on supermarket/shop/store shelves
be in/have in/be out of/run out of stock
deal with/help/serve customers
run a special promotion
be on special offer
Buying goods
make/complete a purchase
buy/purchase sth online/by mail order
make/place/take an order for sth
buy/order sth in bulk/in advance
accept/take credit cards
pay (in) cash/by (credit/debit) card/(BrE) with a gift voucher/(NAmE) with a gift certificate
enter your PIN number
ask for/get/obtain a receipt
return/exchange an item/a product
be entitled to/ask for/demand a refund
compare prices
offer (sb)/give (sb)/get/receive a 30% discount
Example Bank:
• A new car is on my shopping list.
• Developers plan to build 4 000 square feet of shopping space here.
• I do my weekly shopping on a Saturday.
• I have to go shopping in town this afternoon.
• I thought we'd do a little shopping before the show.
• Improved electricity generation is one of the first things on the country's shopping list.
• Jade wants me to take her shopping for a new outfit.
• Jenny went directly to town for some serious shopping.
• New York, the ultimate shopping destination
• Only 22 shopping days left until Christmas!
• She won £10 000 and immediately went on a shopping spree.
• She's doing some last-minute Christmas shopping.
• They unpacked the shopping and put it away.
• This website is a valuable resource for comparison shopping.
• We ensure that our customers have an exceptional shopping experience.
• When shall I do the shopping?
• a home shopping network
• a personal shopping service
• an Internet shopping site
• detailed portraits of consumers' shopping habits
• outside normal shopping hours
• the Christmas shopping season
• the back-to-school shopping season
• the consumers' demand for one-stop shopping
• the move to home shopping using your computer
• the town's main shopping street

• to suffer from compulsive shopping disorder

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

shopping / ˈʃɒp.ɪŋ / / ˈʃɑː.pɪŋ / noun [ U ]

A1 the activity of buying things from shops:

The store is open for late night shopping on Wednesdays.

I'm going shopping this afternoon.

My granddaughter does my weekly shopping for me.

Christmas shopping

A2 goods that you have bought from shops, especially food:

She had so many bags of shopping that she could hardly carry them.

I forgot my shopping list .

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

shopping

[ʃɒ̱pɪŋ]
♦♦♦
1) N-UNCOUNT When you do the shopping, you go to shops and buy things.
→ See also window shopping
I'll do the shopping this afternoon.
2) N-UNCOUNT Your shopping is the things that you have bought from shops, especially food.
We put the shopping away.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

shopping

shopping noun [noncount]
1 : the activity of visiting places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things (such as food, clothing, etc.)
• We do (our) grocery shopping once a week. = We go grocery shopping once a week. [=we shop for groceries once a week]
• I can do your shopping for you.
• When are you going to do the shopping?
• I'm going shopping. [=(Brit) going to the shops]
• We went shopping for a gift at the mall.
- often used before another noun
• a shopping area/basket/cart
• We're going on a shopping trip in New York City.
• a shopping bag [=(Brit) carrier bag; a bag that a store gives you to carry any items you have bought there]
• We went on a shopping spree. [=we bought a lot of things in a short period of time]
2 Brit : the things that are bought at a shop or store
• Put the shopping in the car.

play

play [verb] (GAME)

to take part in a game or other organized activity

/pleɪ/

Example:

Do you want to play cards/football ( with us)?

Oxford Essential Dictionary

verb (plays, playing, played )

1 to have fun; to do something to enjoy yourself:
The children were playing with their toys.

2 to take part in a game:
I like playing tennis.
Do you know how to play chess?

3 to make music with a musical instrument:
My sister plays the piano very well.

grammar
Note that we usually say 'play the violin, the piano, etc.': I'm learning to play the clarinet.

4 to put a record, CD, DVD, etc. in a machine and listen to it:
Shall I play the CD again?

5 to act the part of somebody in a play:
Who wants to play the policeman?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

play

I. play¹ S1 W1 /pleɪ/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑play, ↑interplay, ↑replay, ↑player, ↑playfulness; verb: ↑play, ↑outplay, ↑replay; adjective: ↑playful, ↑playable; adverb: ↑playfully]
[Language: Old English; Origin: plegan]
1. CHILDREN [intransitive and transitive] when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often with other people or with toys:
Kids were playing and chasing each other.
play catch/house/tag/school etc
Outside, the children were playing cowboys and Indians.
play with
Did you like to play with dolls when you were little?
Parents need to spend time just playing with their children.
2. SPORTS/GAMES
a) [intransitive and transitive] to take part or compete in a game or sport:
Karen began playing basketball when she was six.
If you feel any pain, you shouldn’t play.
Men were sitting in the park, playing cards.
play against
Bristol will play against Coventry next week.
She’s playing Helen Evans in the semi-final (=playing against her).
play for
Moxon played for England in ten test matches.
b) [transitive] to use a particular piece, card, person etc in a game or sport:
Harrison played a ten of spades.
The Regents played Eddie at center (=used him as a player in that position) in the game against Arizona.
c) [intransitive and transitive] to take a particular position on a team:
Garvey played first base for the Dodgers.
d) [transitive] to hit a ball in a particular way or to a particular place in a game or sport:
She played the ball low, just over the net.

MUSIC [intransitive and transitive]
to perform a piece of music on a musical instrument:
He’s learning to play the piano.
She played a Bach prelude.
Haden has played with many jazz greats.
A small orchestra was playing.
4. RADIO/CD ETC [intransitive and transitive] if a radio, CD etc plays, or if you play it, it produces sound, especially music:
The bedside radio played softly.
play a record/CD/tape etc
DJs playing the latest house and techno tracks
5. THEATRE/FILM
a) [transitive] to perform the actions and say the words of a particular character in a theatre performance, film etc:
Streep plays a shy, nervous woman.
play a role/part/character etc
Playing a character so different from herself was a challenge.
b) [intransitive] if a play or film is playing at a particular theatre, it is being performed or shown there:
‘Macbeth’ is playing at the Theatre Royal in York.
c) [transitive] if actors play a theatre, they perform there in a play
6. play a part/role to have an effect or influence on something
play a part/role in
A good diet and fitness play a large part in helping people live longer.
7. play ball
a) to throw, kick, hit, or catch a ball as a game or activity:
Jim and Karl were playing ball in the backyard.
b) to do what someone wants you to do:
So far, the company has refused to play ball, preferring to remain independent.
8. PRETEND [linking verb] to behave as if you are a particular kind of person or have a particular feeling or quality, even though it is not true:
the accusation that scientists are playing God
Some snakes fool predators by playing dead.
‘What do you mean?’ ‘Don’t play dumb (=pretend you do not know something).'
Don’t play the innocent (=pretend you do not know about something) with me – we both know what happened.
play the idiot/the teacher etc
Susan felt she had to play the good wife.
He played the fool (=behaved in a silly way) at school instead of working.
9. BEHAVE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to behave in a particular way in a situation, in order to achieve the result or effect that you want:
How do you want to play this meeting?
Play it safe (=avoid risks) and make sure the eggs are thoroughly cooked.
play it carefully/cool etc
If you like him, play it cool, or you might scare him off.
10. play games to hide your real feelings or wishes in order to achieve something in a clever or secret way – used to show disapproval:
Stop playing games, Luke, and tell me what you want.
11. play something by ear
a) to decide what to do according to the way a situation develops, without making plans before that time:
We’ll see what the weather’s like and play it by ear.
b) if someone can play a musical instrument by ear, they can play a tune without looking at written music
12. play a joke/trick/prank on somebody to do something to someone as a joke or trick
13. play the game
a) to do things in the way you are expected to do them or in a way that is usual in a particular situation:
If you want a promotion, you’ve got to play the game.
b) British English to behave in a fair and honest way
14. play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card to use a particular subject in politics in order to gain an advantage:
a leader who is skilfully playing the nationalist card to keep power
15. play your cards right to say or do things in a situation in such a way that you gain as much as possible from it:
Who knows? If you play your cards right, maybe he’ll marry you.
16. play your cards close to your chest to keep secret what you are doing in a situation
17. play into sb’s hands to do what someone you are competing with wants you to do, without realizing it:
If we respond with violence, we’ll be playing into their hands, giving them an excuse for a fight.
18. play for time to try to delay something so that you have more time to prepare for it or prevent it from happening:
The rebels may be playing for time while they try to get more weapons.
19. play tricks (on you) if your mind, memory, sight etc plays tricks on you, you feel confused and not sure about what is happening:
It happened a long time ago, and my memory might be playing tricks on me.
20. play the market to risk money on the ↑stock market as a way of trying to earn more money
21. play the system to use the rules of a system in a clever way, to gain advantage for yourself:
Accountants know how to play the tax system.
22. play second fiddle (to somebody) to be in a lower position or rank than someone else
23. play hard to get to pretend that you are not sexually interested in someone so that they will become more interested in you
24. SMILE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if a smile plays about someone’s lips, they smile slightly
25. play hooky American English, play truant British English to stay away from school without permission
26. play with fire to do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result:
Dating the boss’s daughter is playing with fire.
27. play to your strengths to do what you are able to do well, rather than trying to do other things:
It is up to us to play to our strengths and try to control the game.
28. LIGHT [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] written if light plays on something, it shines on it and moves on it:
the sunlight playing on the water
29. WATER [intransitive] written if a ↑fountain plays, water comes from it
30. play a hose/light on something to point a ↑hose or light towards something so that water or light goes onto it
31. play the field to have sexual relationships with a lot of different people
32. play fast and loose with something to not be careful about what you do, especially by not obeying the law or a rule:
They played fast and loose with investors’ money.
33. play happy families British English to spend time with your family, doing normal things, especially so that your family appears to be happy when it is not
play around (also play about British English) phrasal verb
1. to have a sexual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner
play around with
Wasn’t she playing around with another man?
It was years before I realized he’d been playing around.
2. to try doing something in different ways, to see what would be best, especially when this is fun
play around with
Play around with the ingredients if you like.
3. to behave in a silly way or waste time, when you should be doing something more serious SYN fool around:
When the teacher wasn’t looking, we used to play about a lot.
play around with something (also play about with somethingBritish English) phrasal verb
to keep moving or making changes to something in your hands SYN fiddle with:
Will you stop playing around with the remote control!
play along phrasal verb
1. to pretend to agree to do what someone wants, in order to avoid annoying them or to get an advantage:
She felt she had to play along or risk losing her job.
2. play somebody along British English to tell someone something that is not true because you need their help in some way
play at something phrasal verb
1. What is somebody playing at? British English spoken used when you do not understand what someone is doing or why they are doing it, and you are surprised or annoyed:
What do you think you’re playing at?
2. if you play at doing something, you do not do it properly or seriously
play at doing something
He’s still playing at being an artist.
3. British English if children play at doctors, soldiers etc, they pretend to be doctors, soldiers etc
play at being something
a 14-year-old playing at being a grown woman
play something ↔ back phrasal verb
to play something that has been recorded on a machine so that you can listen to it or watch it:
He played back his answering machine messages.
play something ↔ down phrasal verb
to try to make something seem less important or less likely than it really is:
Management has been playing down the possibility of job losses.
play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something
The White House spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the event.
play off phrasal verb
1. British English if people or teams play off, they play the last game in a sports competition, in order to decide who is the winner:
The top two teams will play off at Twickenham for the county title.
2. play off somebody/something American English to deliberately use a fact, action, idea etc in order to make what you are doing better or to get an advantage:
The two musicians played off each other in a piece of inspired improvisation.
play somebody off against somebody phrasal verb
to encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, in order to get some advantage for yourself:
The house seller may try to play one buyer off against another, to raise the price.
play on/upon something phrasal verb
to use a feeling, fact, or idea in order to get what you want, often in an unfair way:
The ad plays on our emotions, showing a doctor holding a newborn baby.
play something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. if an event or situation is played out or plays itself out, it happens:
It will be interesting to see how the election plays itself out.
2. if people play out their dreams, feelings etc, they express them by pretending that a particular situation is really happening:
The weekend gives you a chance to play out your fantasies.
play up phrasal verb
1. play something ↔ up to emphasize something, sometimes making it seem more important than it really is:
Play up your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph.
2. play (somebody) up British English informal if children play up, they behave badly:
Jordan’s been playing up in school.
I hope the kids don’t play you up.
3. play (somebody) up British English informal to hurt you or cause problems for you:
My knee’s been playing me up this week.
The car’s playing up again.
play up to somebody phrasal verb
to behave in a very polite or kind way to someone because you want something from them:
Connie always plays up to her parents when she wants money.
play with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to keep touching something or moving it:
Stop playing with the light switch!
2. to try doing something in different ways to decide what works best:
Play with the design onscreen, moving text and pictures until you get a pleasing arrangement.
3. to consider an idea or possibility, but not always very seriouslySYN toy with:
After university, I played with the idea of teaching English in China.
4. money/time/space etc to play with money, time etc that is available to be used:
The budget is very tight, so there isn’t much money to play with.
5. play with yourself to touch your own sex organs for pleasureSYN masturbate
6. play with words/language to use words in a clever or amusing way

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

play

play [play plays played playing] verb, noun [pleɪ] [pleɪ]

verb

OF CHILDREN
1. intransitive, transitive to do things for pleasure, as children do; to enjoy yourself, rather than work
• You'll have to play inside today.
• There's a time to work and a time to play.
• ~ with sb/sth A group of kids were playing with a ball in the street.
• I haven't got anybody to play with!

• ~ sth Let's play a different game.

2. transitive, no passive, intransitive to pretend to be or do sth for fun
• ~ sth Let's play pirates.

• ~ at doing sth They were playing at being cowboys.

TRICK

3. transitive ~ a trick/tricks (on sb) to trick sb for fun

SPORTS/GAMES
4. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (with/against sb) to be involved in a game; to compete against sb in a game
• ~ sth to play football/chess/cards, etc.
• ~ sb France are playing Wales tomorrow.
• ~ sb at sth Have you played her at squash yet?
• ~ for sb He plays for Cleveland.
• ~ against sb France are playing against Wales on Saturday.

• + adv./prep. Evans played very well.

5. intransitive to take a particular position in a sports team
• + adv./prep. Who's playing on the wing?

• + noun I've never played right back before.

6. transitive ~ sb (+ adv./prep.) to include sb in a sports team

• I think we should play Matt on the wing.

7. transitive ~ sth to make contact with the ball and hit or kick it in the way mentioned
• She played the ball and ran forward.

• He played a backhand volley.

8. transitive ~ sth (in chess) to move a piece in chess, etc

• She played her bishop.

9. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (in card games) to put a card face upwards on the table, showing its value
• to play your ace/a trump

• He played out of turn!

MUSIC

10. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (on sth) to perform on a musical instrument; to perform music
• ~ (sth) to play the piano/violin/flute, etc.
• In the distance a band was playing.
• ~ sth (on sth) He played a tune on his harmonica.
• ~ sth to sb Play that new piece to us.

• ~ sb sth Play us that new piece.

11. transitive, intransitive to make a tape, CD, etc. produce sound
• ~ sth (for sb) Play their new CD for me, please.
• ~ (sb sth) Play me their new CD, please.
• My favourite song was playing on the radio.

• For some reason this CD won't play.

DVD/VIDEO

12. intransitive, transitive (of a DVD or video) to start working; to make a DVD or video start working
• This DVD won't play on my computer.
• ~ sth Click below to play videos.
• Nothing happens when I try to play a DVD.

• A short video was played to the court showing the inside of the house.

ACT/PERFORM

13. transitive ~ sth to act in a play, film/movie, etc; to act the role of sb
• The part of Elizabeth was played by Cate Blanchett.

• He had always wanted to play Othello.

14. intransitive to pretend to be sth that you are not
• + adj. I decided it was safer to play dead.

• + noun She enjoys playing the wronged wife.

15. intransitive ~ (to sb) to be performed

• A production of ‘Carmen’ was playing to packed houses.

HAVE EFFECT

16. transitive ~ a part/role (in sth) to have an effect on sth

• The media played an important part in the last election.

SITUATION

17. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to deal with a situation in the way mentioned

• He played the situation carefully for maximum advantage.

OF LIGHT/A SMILE

18. intransitive + adv./prep. to move or appear quickly and lightly, often changing direction or shape

• Sunlight played on the surface of the lake.

OF FOUNTAIN

19. intransitive when a fountain plays, it produces a steady stream of water

• Two huge fountains were playing outside the entrance.

Rem: Most idioms containing play are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example play the game is at game.

Word Origin:

Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’.

Thesaurus:
play verb
1. I, T
• There's a time to work and a time to play.
enjoy yourself • • have fun • • celebrate • |informal have a good/great time • • party • • live it up •
Let's play/enjoy ourselves/have fun/celebrate/have a good time/party/live it up.
2. T, I
• He plays football in a local team.
compete • • go in for sth • • enter •
play/compete in a competition, etc.
play/compete against sb
3. T, I
• Who played the part of Juliet?
• I could hear a band playing in the distance.
perform • • act • |especially spoken do •
play/perform/do a piece
play/act a role/part
a band/musician plays/performs/does sth
Play or act? When you are talking about drama act can be used with an object (act a part) as well as without (He just can't act.); play can only be used with an object (play a part) and is more commonly used in this way than act.
Synonyms:
entertainment
fun • recreation • relaxation • play • pleasure • amusement
These are all words for things or activities used to entertain people when they are not working.
entertainment • films, television, music, etc. used to entertain people: ▪ There are three bars, with live entertainment seven nights a week.
fun • (rather informal) behaviour or activities that are not serious but come from a sense of enjoyment: ▪ It wasn't serious— it was all done ▪ in fun ▪. ◊ ▪ We didn't mean to hurt him. It was just ▪ a bit of fun ▪. ◊ ▪ The lottery provides ▪ harmless fun ▪ for millions.
recreation • (rather formal) things people do for enjoyment when they are not working: ▪ His only form of recreation is playing football.
relaxation • (rather formal) things people do to rest and enjoy themselves when they are not working; the ability to relax: ▪ I go hill-walking for relaxation.
recreation or relaxation?
Both these words can be used for a wide range of activities, physical and mental, but relaxation is sometimes used for gentler activities than recreation: ▪ I play the flute in a wind band for recreation. ◊ ▪I listen to music for relaxation.
play • things that people, especially children, do for enjoyment rather than as work: ▪ the happy sounds of children ▪ at play
pleasure • the activity of enjoying yourself, especially in contrast to working: ▪ Are you in Paris ▪ for business or pleasure ▪?
amusement • the fact of being entertained by sth: ▪ What do you do for amusement round here?
to do sth for entertainment/fun/recreation/relaxation/pleasure/amusement
to provide entertainment/fun/recreation/relaxation/amusement
Example Bank:
• Have you ever heard her play?
• He plays for Aston Villa.
• He plays for the Chicago Bears.
• I'm learning to play sax.
• I've never played John at tennis.
• Let's play at pirates!
• She has played in every game this season.
• She was playing cards with her mother.
• The band will be playing live in the studio.
• The little girl was playing with her toys.
• The other children wouldn't let him play.
• These guys make the team very difficult to play against.
• United are difficult to play against.
• a piece that is relatively easy to play
• learning to play the violin
• Do you want to play cards with me?
• Have you ever played her at chess?
• I haven't got anybody to play with!
• I've never played right back before.
• Let's play a different game.
• The part of the Queen was played by Helen Mirren.
• There's a time to work and a time to play.
• They play football on Saturday mornings.
• Who's playing on the wing?

• You'll have to play inside today.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

play / pleɪ / verb (GAME)

A1 [ I or T ] to take part in a game or other organized activity:

Do you want to play cards/football ( with us)?

Irene won't be able to play in the match on Saturday.

Which team do you play for ?

Luke plays centre-forward (= plays in that position within the team) .

B1 [ T ] to compete against a person or team in a game:

Who are Aston Villa playing next week?

[ T ] to hit or kick a ball in a game:

He played the ball back to the goalkeeper.

A good snooker player takes time deciding which shot to play.

[ T ] to choose a card, in a card game, from the ones you are holding and put it down on the table:

She played the ace of spades.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

play

/pleɪ/
(plays, playing, played)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
When children, animals, or perhaps adults play, they spend time doing enjoyable things, such as using toys and taking part in games.
They played in the little garden...
Polly was playing with her teddy bear.
VERB: V, V with n

2.
When you play a sport, game, or match, you take part in it.
While the twins played cards, Francis sat reading...
Alain was playing cards with his friends...
I used to play basketball...
I want to play for my country...
He captained the team but he didn’t actually play.
V-RECIP: pl-n V n, V n with n, V n (non-recip), V for n (non-recip), V (non-recip)

3.
When one person or team plays another or plays against them, they compete against them in a sport or game.
Northern Ireland will play Latvia...
I’ve played against him a few times.
VERB: V n, V against n

4.
When you play the ball or play a shot in a game or sport, you kick or hit the ball.
Think first before playing the ball...
I played the ball back slightly.
VERB: V n, V n adv

5.
If you play a joke or a trick on someone, you deceive them or give them a surprise in a way that you think is funny, but that often causes problems for them or annoys them.
Someone had played a trick on her, stretched a piece of string at the top of those steps...
I thought: ‘This cannot be happening, somebody must be playing a joke’.
VERB: V n on n, V n

6.
If you play with an object or with your hair, you keep moving it or touching it with your fingers, perhaps because you are bored or nervous.
She stared at the floor, idly playing with the strap of her handbag.
VERB: V with n

8.
If an actor plays a role or character in a play or film, he or she performs the part of that character.
...Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, in which he played Hyde...
His ambition is to play the part of Dracula.
VERB: V n, V n

9.
You can use play to describe how someone behaves, when they are deliberately behaving in a certain way or like a certain type of person. For example, to play the innocent, means to pretend to be innocent, and to play deaf means to pretend not to hear something.
Hill tried to play the peacemaker...
So you want to play nervous today?
= act
V-LINK: V n, V adj

10.
You can describe how someone deals with a situation by saying that they play it in a certain way. For example, if someone plays it cool, they keep calm and do not show much emotion, and if someone plays it straight, they behave in an honest and direct way.
Investors are playing it cautious, and they’re playing it smart.
VERB: V it adj/adv

11.
If you play a musical instrument or play a tune on a musical instrument, or if a musical instrument plays, music is produced from it.
Nina had been playing the piano...
He played for me...
Place your baby in her seat and play her a lullaby...
The guitars played.
VERB: V n, V for n, V n n, V

12.
If you play a record, a CD, or a tape, you put it into a machine and sound is produced. If a record, CD, or tape is playing, sound is being produced from it.
She played her records too loudly...
There is classical music playing in the background.
VERB: V n, V, also V n n

13.
If a musician or group of musicians plays or plays a concert, they perform music for people to listen or dance to.
A band was playing...
He will play concerts in Amsterdam and Paris.
VERB: V, V n

14.
If you ask what someone is playing at, you are angry because you think they are doing something stupid or wrong. (INFORMAL)
What the hell are you playing at?
PHRASE: V inflects [feelings]

15.
When something comes into play or is brought into play, it begins to be used or to have an effect.
The real existence of a military option will come into play...
PHRASE: V inflects

16.
If something or someone plays a part or plays a role in a situation, they are involved in it and have an effect on it.
The UN would play a major role in monitoring a ceasefire.
...the role played by diet in disease.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR in n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹play /ˈpleɪ/ verb plays; played; play·ing
1 : to do activities for fun or enjoyment

[no obj]

• The children were playing in the yard.
• Can Sara come out and play?
• He played by himself in his room.
- often + with
• She's outside playing with her friends.
• You already have lots of toys to play with.
• a baby playing with his toes

[+ obj]

✦If children play teacher/school (etc.), they play by pretending to be adults.
• She likes to play teacher/doctor with her sisters.
- see also play house at ¹house
2 a : to participate in (a game or sport)

[+ obj]

• Did you play any sports in high school?
• She plays soccer.
• Do you want to play (a game of) cards/poker?
• No one dares to play chess with/against him.
• It's not whether you win or lose (that's important), it's how you play the game.
• The children were playing hide-and-seek.

[no obj]

• I have a chess set. Do you want to play?
• It's your turn to play.
• She hurt her wrist but decided to continue playing.
• He played in every major tournament this year.
• He's always dreamed of playing on a professional hockey team.
- often + for
• We never play for money.
• I'm on a basketball team at school, but I also play for fun with my friends.
✦If you play for a particular team, you are a member of that team.
• Babe Ruth played for the Yankees.
• He used to play for Boston but got traded to New York.
b : to compete against (someone) in a game

[+ obj]

• The Yankees are playing the Red Sox tonight at Yankee Stadium.
• No one dares to play him at chess.
• When Tom and I are finished with this game, you can play the winner.

[no obj]

• The Yankees and the Red Sox are playing at Yankee Stadium.
• She has played against some of the best tennis players in the world.
✦If you play (someone) for (something), you play a game in which the winner will be able to take or keep something.
• “Is that the last can of soda?” “Yeah, I'll play you for it.”
c [+ obj] : to have (a particular position on a sports team)
• He dreamed about playing quarterback in the National Football League.
• She played center field in their last game.
• He plays third base.
• What position does he play?
d [+ obj] : to allow (someone) to play during a game especially in a particular position
• Her coach didn't play her in yesterday's game.
• They decided to play him at first base.
e [+ obj] : to place (a playing card) on the table during your turn in a card game
• I played the ace of hearts.
- often used figuratively
• lawyers who play the race card to defend their clients [=who say that their clients were treated unfairly because of their race]
- see also play your cards close to the chest/vest at ¹card play your cards right at ¹card
f [+ obj] : to move (a piece) during your turn in a chess game
• He played his rook/bishop/queen for the win.
g [+ obj] : to hit, kick, throw, or catch (a ball, puck, etc.)
• You have to play the ball where it lies.
• He played a wedge shot to the green.
• He played a great shot to his opponent's forehand.
• The shortstop played the ball perfectly.
3 [+ obj]
a : to bet money on (something)
• I used to gamble a lot. Mostly, I played the races/horses/slots.
• She only plays the lottery when there's a large jackpot.
b : to invest money in (the stock market) in order to try to earn money
• You can lose a lot of money playing the (stock) market.
4 a : to perform music on (an instrument)

[+ obj]

• She's been playing the violin since she was 10 years old.
• Where did you learn to play the piano?
• He can play guitar and drums.

[no obj]

• He played while she sang.
• Would you play for us?
• He plays in a band.
b [no obj] of an instrument : to produce music
• I could hear a guitar playing in the distance.
c [+ obj] : to perform (a song, a piece of music, etc.) on an instrument
• Would you play something for us?
• The band played their new hit song.
• The conductor had us play the piece again from the beginning.
• The band played a waltz.
• She started her career playing country music.
d [+ obj] : to perform music written by (a particular composer)
• The orchestra will be playing Mozart tonight.
e : to perform music in (a particular place)

[+ obj]

• It was her dream to play Carnegie Hall.
• She prefers playing small concert halls rather than big stadiums.
• The band has been playing bars and nightclubs.

[no obj]

• We mostly play in bars and nightclubs.
5 : to cause (a song, a piece of music, a movie, etc.) to be heard or seen

[+ obj]

• You kids are playing your music too loud.
• The radio station plays mostly hip-hop and R&B.
• Who decides which songs get played on the radio?
• We're waiting for you to play the movie.
• I asked him to play the album/CD/DVD for me.

[no obj]

• Our favorite song was playing on the radio.
• Classical music played softly in the background.
• The movie/DVD is already playing.
6 [no obj] : to be shown or performed usually more than one time
• The film is now playing [=is now being shown] in theaters across the country.
• What's playing at the theater/movies?
• The show has been playing to full/packed houses.
7 a [+ obj] : to act the part of (a particular character) in a film, play, etc.
• He played the lead role in Hamlet.
• Her character is being played by a relatively unknown actress.
• She's not a doctor, but she plays one on TV.
- often used figuratively
• My wife never disciplines the children. She gets to play the good guy while I have to play the bad guy. [=I have to discipline the children]
• I survived a terrible tragedy, but I don't want to play the victim. [=I don't want to act like a victim]
- often used with part or role
• Luck played an important part in their success. [=a lot of their success was because of luck]
• The essay discusses the role that television plays in modern society. [=the effect that television has on modern society]
• He's been playing the part/role of the jealous husband. [=he has been acting like a jealous husband]
• We all have a part/role to play in the future of this company. [=we all will be involved in an important way in the future of this company]
- see also role-play
b [no obj] : to pretend that you have a particular quality or are in a particular condition
• Don't play [=act] all innocent with me!
• She tried to teach her dog to play dead. [=to lie on its back and pretend to be dead]
• If anyone asks you about it, play dumb. [=act like you do not know anything about it]
8 : to act or behave in a particular way

[no obj]

• It's a very competitive business, and not everyone plays fair. = Not everyone plays by the rules.
• If you play smart [=if you make good decisions], you should be able to graduate in four years.

[+ obj]

• She didn't want to seem too eager, so she decided to play it cool. [=to act calm]
• If you play it smart, you should be able to graduate in four years.
• I decided to play it safe [=to be careful and avoid risk or danger] and leave early so that I would be sure to arrive on time.
- see also play by ear at ¹ear
9 [no obj] : to do or say things in a joking way
• Don't take it so seriously. He was just playing. [=kidding, joking]
- often + around
• I was just playing around. I didn't really mean it.
• Stop playing around and talk to me seriously for a moment.
10 [+ obj] : to do (something) to someone in order to amuse yourself or others
• He's known for playing pranks, so I wouldn't trust him if I were you.
- usually + on
• Let's play a joke on her.
• The students got in trouble for playing a trick on their teacher.
• I can't believe what I'm seeing. My eyes must be playing tricks onme.
11 [+ obj] informal : to use or control (someone or something) in a clever and unfair way
• I'm never going to let anyone play me again.
• She played you like a fool.
- often + for
• She realized too late that she had been played for a fool.
• They had been playing the guy for a sucker all along.
12 [+ obj] : to base a decision or action on (something)
• Sometimes you just have to play your luck [=to take a chance] and hope that everything turns out okay.
• The coach was playing the odds that his pitcher would get through the inning without giving up a run.
• Criminal investigators need to play [=to act on] their hunches.
13 [no obj] US : to be accepted or received in a particular way
• The script looked good on paper but didn't play well on Broadway.
- often + with
• His idea did not play well with the committee. [=the committee did not like his idea]
14 [no obj] : to move in a lively and irregular way
• A knowing smile played on/about her lips.
• We watched the moonlight playing on the water.
play along [phrasal verb] : to agree to do or accept what other people want
• They wanted me to cooperate with them, but I refused to play along. [=go along]
• If I pretend to be sick, will you play along and tell everyone that I had to go to the doctor?
- often + with
• I refused to play along with them.
• Will you play along with my plan?
play around also Brit play about [phrasal verb]
1 : to have sex with someone who is not your husband, wife, or regular partner
• He's not the kind of guy who plays around. [=fools around, messes around]
- often + on
• She's been playing around on her husband.
- often + with
• She's been playing around with one of her coworkers.
2 : to deal with or treat something in a careless way
• When it comes to protecting his family, he doesn't play around. [=fool around, mess around]
- often + with
• You can't play around with diabetes; it's a very serious disease.
3 : to use or do something in a way that is not very serious
• It's time to stop playing around [=fooling around] and get busy.
- often + on
• I spent the evening playing around on the piano/computer/Internet.
- often + with
• I'm not really a painter; I just like to play around with paints.
4 play around with (something) : to move or change (something) or to think about (something) in different ways often in order to find out what would work best
• I see you've been playing around with the living room furniture again.
• The supervisor played around with our work schedules this week.
• We played around with the idea for a while but eventually realized that it just wouldn't work.
- see also ¹play 9 (above)
play at [phrasal verb] play at (something)
1 : to do (something) in a way that is not serious
• They were only playing at trying to fix the problem.
2 chiefly Brit : to play by pretending to be (someone or something)
• (Brit) She liked to play at doctors and nurses as a child.
- often used in the phrase play at being (something)
• boys playing at being soldiers
3 Brit
- used to say in an annoyed way that you do not know the reason for someone's behavior
• What is he playing at?
• I have no idea what he was playing at.
play back [phrasal verb] play back (something) or play (something) back : to cause (recorded sounds or pictures) to be heard or seen
• The machine allows you to record and play back sounds.
• We finished recording our first take and played it back to hear how it sounded.
• He played the tape back to/for us.
- see also playback
play ball
- see ¹ball
play down [phrasal verb] play down (something) or play (something) down : to make (something) seem smaller or less important
• She played down [=downplayed] her role in the research.
• It was a significant mistake though our CEO tried to play it down.
play fast and loose : to behave in a clever and dishonest way - usually + with
• He was accused of playing fast and loose with the truth. [=of being dishonest]
• reporters playing fast and loose with the facts
play for laughs or play (something) for laughs : to act in a funny way that makes people laugh
• She's fantastic in serious roles, but she also knows how to play for laughs.
• Most performers would have taken a serious tone during the scene, but he decided to play it for laughs.
play for time : to try to make something happen later instead of sooner : to try to delay something
• They're just playing for time, hoping that the situation will resolve itself.
play games
- see ¹game
play God usually disapproving : to make decisions that have a very powerful and important effect on other people's lives
• lawyers who play God with people's lives
play hard to get : to pretend that you are not interested in having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone in order to make that person more attracted to you
• She's been playing hard to get, but I can tell that she likes me.
play into [phrasal verb] play into (something) : to help support (something, such as an idea)
• This new evidence plays into their theory quite nicely.
• Her methods play into the stereotype that lawyers are dishonest.
play into someone's hands or play into the hands of someone: to do something that you do not realize will hurt you and help someone else
• You're only playing into their hands by making such ridiculous accusations.
play off [phrasal verb]
1 chiefly Brit : to participate in a game that decides a winner from people or teams that had the same results in an earlier game : to play in a play-off
• The two teams played off for third place.
- see also play-off
2 play off (someone or something) US : to react to (someone or something) in a pleasing way : to combine with (someone or something) in a way that makes each part better
• In this scene, the two actors play off each other extremely well.
• The sweetness of the wine plays off the sharp flavor of the cheese.
3 play (someone or something) off against (someone or something) : to cause two people or groups to fight or compete with each other in a way that helps you
• They have been playing him off against his old enemies. [=causing him to fight with his old enemies]
• He played one side off against the other.
play on also play upon [phrasal verb] play on/upon (something) : to make people do what you want by using (their emotions, fears, concerns, etc.) in an unfair way
• The company plays on [=takes advantage of] the concerns of parents in order to sell their products.
• Politicians often win votes by playing on [=exploiting] people's emotions.
play out [phrasal verb]
1 a : to happen or occur in usually a gradual way
• Let's wait and see how things play out. [=take place, develop]
• The consequences of the error will play out for several years to come.
• Their personal tragedy was being played out in public.
b play out (something) or play (something) out : to make (something) happen
• She got to play out [=realize] her fantasy of being on TV.
• We watch professional athletes play out [=act out, live out] our dreams on the field.
• This scene plays itself out [=happens] daily in every large city in this country.
2 play out (something) or play (something) out : to finish (something)
• Her coach let her play out the rest of the season but said she wouldn't be allowed on the team next year.
• We'll stop the game after we play out this hand.
• playing out dangerous experiments
• That style of music had played itself out [=stopped being current or popular] and the record companies wanted something new.
- see also played-out
play the field : to have romantic or sexual relationships with more than one person at a time : to date more than one person
• He wanted to play the field a bit before he got married and settled down.
play the fool
- see ¹fool
play to [phrasal verb]
1 play to (someone or something) : to behave or perform in a particular way for (someone or something) in order to get approval or attention
• He didn't mean what he was saying. He was just playing to the crowd.
• He loves publicity and plays to the cameras every chance he gets.
2 play to (something) : to make use of (something)
• a film that plays to stereotypes of housewives
• In his latest album, he once again plays to his strengths as a classical musician.
play to the gallery
- see gallery
play up [phrasal verb]
1 play up (something) or play (something) up
a : to talk about or treat (something) in a way that gives it special importance : to emphasize or stress (something)
• During the interview, try to play down your weaknesses and play up your strengths.
b : to make (something) seem bigger or more important
• It was only a small achievement though our CEO tried to play it up.
2 play up or play (someone) up Brit : to cause problems or pain
• The children have been playing up [=misbehaving, acting up] again.
• The camera started playing up [=acting up] after I dropped it.
• Whenever it rains, my arthritis starts playing up. [=acting up]
• My back has been playing me up again.
play with [phrasal verb] play with (something)
1 : to move or handle (something) with your hands or fingers often without thinking
• She played with her hair while she talked on the phone.
• Stop playing with your food and eat.
2 : to handle, change, or deal with (something) in a careless way
• I played [=fiddled, messed] with the radio for a while but couldn't get it to work.
• It's important to teach your children not to play withguns/fire/matches.
• Don't play with [=play around with] my heart/emotions.
• You have to take this seriously. You're playing with people's lives!
• They're playing with other people's money.
3 : to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously
• Management has been playing with [=toying with] the idea of moving to a different building.
• I played with the idea of moving to Chicago but ended up staying in New York.
play with fire : to do something that is risky or dangerous
• People who use drugs are playing with fire.
play with words/language : to use words that sound similar or that have several different meanings especially in a clever or funny way
• a writer who enjoys playing with words
play with yourself : to touch your own sex organs for sexual pleasure : masturbate

American English

British English

sports and games generally

A1 (Basic)

verb

problem

problem [noun]

a situation, person, or thing that needs attention and needs to be dealt with or solved

/ˈprɑː.bləm/

/ˈprɒb.ləm/

Example:

Our main problem is lack of cash.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

problem

noun

1 something that is difficult; something that makes you worry:
She has a lot of problems. Her husband is ill and her son is in prison.
There is a problem with my telephone – it doesn't work.

2 a question that you must answer by thinking about it:
I can't solve this problem.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

problem

prob‧lem S1 W1 /ˈprɒbləm $ ˈprɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: problème, from Latin problema, from Greek, 'something thrown forward', from proballein 'to throw forward']
1. DIFFICULTY a situation that causes difficulties:
She was older than me, but that wasn’t really a problem.
problem of
The problem of street crime is getting worse every year.
problem with
I’ve been having a few problems with my car.
REGISTER
In writing, people sometimes prefer to use the word issue rather than problem, as it sounds more neutral and less negative:
▪ the issue of race relations
2. something wrong with your health or with part of your body
health problem/problem with your health
Does she have any long-term health problems?
back/heart/kidney etc problem
If you have back problems you should avoid lifting heavy objects.
hearing problem
Many people with hearing problems try to hide their condition.
weight problem
She refuses to admit to herself that she has a weight problem.
emotional/psychological problem
Is this a sign of some kind of deeper psychological problem?
3. QUESTION a question for which you have to find the right answer, using mathematics or careful thought:
She gave us 20 mathematical problems to solve.
4. no problem spoken
a) used to say that you are happy to do something or for someone else to do something:
‘Can I bring a friend?’ ‘Sure, no problem.’
b) used after someone has said thank you or said that they are sorry:
‘Thanks for all your help.’ ‘No problem!’
5. have no problem (in) doing something to do something easily:
I’ve had no problem recruiting staff.
6. the (only) problem is (that) ... spoken used before saying what the main difficulty in a situation is:
The problem is, there isn’t enough time.
7. that’s your/his etc problem spoken used to say rudely that someone else is responsible for dealing with a situation, not you:
If you miss the train, that’s your problem.
8. it’s/that’s not my problem spoken used to say rudely that you are not responsible for dealing with a particular problem and are not willing to help:
‘We’ve got a serious staffing shortage.’ ‘That’s not my problem.’
9. What’s your/his etc problem? spoken informal used when you think that someone is behaving in a way that is unreasonable
10. Do you have a problem with that? spoken informal used to ask someone why they seem to disagree with you, in a way that shows that you are annoyed
11. problem child/family/drinker etc a child etc whose behaviour causes problems for other people
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ have a problem We saw water rushing in and realised we had a serious problem.
▪ cause/create a problem The building’s lack of parking space could cause problems.
▪ present/pose a problem (=cause it or make it have to be considered) A shortage of trained nurses is posing major problems.
▪ deal with/sort out a problem The state has failed to deal with the problem of violence against women.
▪ tackle/address a problem (=deal with it) There is more than one way to tackle this problem.
▪ solve/resolve a problem (also fix a problem informal) He solved his financial problems by selling his car.
▪ overcome a problem We try to help families overcome housing problems.
▪ face a problem Terrorism is possibly the most important problem facing western countries.
▪ raise a problem (=mention it, so that people can discuss it) He also raised the problem of noise from planes taking off and landing.
▪ encounter/experience a problem You shouldn’t encounter any further problems.
▪ a problem arises/occurs (also a problem comes up) (=it happens) Problems may arise when the family wants to move house.
▪ compound/exacerbate a problem formal (=make it worse) The country’s economic problems are compounded by its ageing population.
▪ the problem lies in/with something The problem lies in the design of the rocket.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + problem
▪ big/major/serious The school’s biggest problem is a shortage of cash.
▪ little/small/minor Old cars often develop minor engine problems.
▪ the main problem The main problem for the climbers was lack of sleep.
▪ a real problem They quickly found that their real problem lay with marketing.
▪ a difficult problem Does the team have the skills to tackle these difficult problems?
▪ a thorny/knotty problem (=difficult) He still faced the thorny problem of finding a way out of the jungle.
▪ a fundamental problem (=relating to the most basic and important parts of something ) The government has done little to solve the fundamental problems of poverty and crime.
▪ a pressing problem (=one that needs to be dealt with very soon) Lack of clean drinking water is the most pressing problem facing the refugees.
▪ personal problems (=relating to your private life and relationships) My daughter found it hard to talk about her personal problems.
▪ family problems She would never discuss family problems with outsiders.
▪ financial/money problems Our financial problems are over.
▪ economic problems He argued that the government was to blame for the country’s economic problems.
▪ a technical problem The delay was caused by technical problems.
▪ a practical problem Burying a pet can present practical problems.
▪ an environmental problem Air pollution is our most serious environmental problem.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► It is more usual to say a big problem, a major problem or a serious problem, instead of saying 'an important problem'.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + problem
▪ a health/medical problem Have you ever suffered from any of these health problems?
▪ a back/heart/kidney etc problem He was born with heart problems.
▪ a hearing problem There are special telephones for people with hearing problems.
▪ a weight problem (=the problem of being too fat) Patients with weight problems were put on a strict diet.
▪ psychological problems (also mental health problems) She is being treated for psychological problems at a mental hospital in Oxford.
▪ emotional problems He suffers from depression and other emotional problems.
▪ behavioural problems Many of these children have behavioural problems.
▪ a serious/major problem Lifting things carelessly can lead to serious back problems.
▪ a minor problem She has had some minor medical problems.
■ verbs
▪ have a problem He's always had a weight problem.
▪ suffer (from) a problem The patient began to suffer breathing problems.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ setback a problem that stops you from making progress: The space program suffered a major setback when the space shuttle, Discovery, exploded.
▪ snag informal a problem, especially one that you had not expected: There’s a snag – I don’t have his number.
▪ hitch a small problem that delays or prevents something: There have been a few last-minute hitches.
▪ trouble when something does not work in the way it should: The plane developed engine trouble.
▪ hassle spoken a situation that is annoying because it causes problems: Just trying to store all this stuff is a hassle.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

problem

prob·lem [problem problems] noun, adjective [ˈprɒbləm] [ˈprɑːbləm]

noun
1. a thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand
• big/major/serious problems
• health/family, etc. problems
• financial/practical/technical problems
• to address/tackle/solve a problem
• (especially NAmE) to fix a problem
• the problem of drug abuse
• If he chooses Mary it's bound to cause problems.
• Let me know if you have any problems.
• Most students face the problem of funding themselves while they are studying.
• The problem first arose in 2008.
• Unemployment is a very real problem for graduates now.
• It's a nice table! The only problem is (that) it's too big for our room.
• Stop worrying about their marriage— it isn't your problem.
• There's no history of heart problems (= disease connected with the heart) in our family.

• the magazine's problem page (= containing letters about readers' problems and advice about how to solve them)

2. a question that can be answered by using logical thought or mathematics
• mathematical problems
• to find the answer to the problem
• The teacher set us 50 problems to do.
Word Origin:
late Middle English (originally denoting a riddle or a question for academic discussion): from Old French probleme, via Latin from Greek problēma, from proballein ‘put forth’, from pro ‘before’ + ballein ‘to throw’.
Thesaurus:
problem noun C
• Unemployment is a real problem for graduates now.
difficulty • • issue • • trouble • • complication • |especially spoken the matter • |usually approving challenge •
(a/an/the) problem/difficulty/trouble/complication/issue/matter with sth
have problems/difficulties/issues/trouble
cause/avoid problems/difficulties/trouble/complications
create/bring/run into problems/difficulties/trouble
Problem or difficulty? To talk about one thing that is difficult to deal with use problem; to talk about more than one thing use either word
• The problem first arose in 2008.
• The project has been fraught with problems/difficulties from the start.

Example Bank:
• All the anti-depressant does is mask the problem.
• Depression is a natural feeling if your problems seem intractable.
• Do you have a problem with her?
• For years I've tried to overlook this problem.
• Fortunately, it's easy to avoid any potential problems.
• Framing the problem is an important step.
• He believes he may have found a solution to the problem.
• He developed a drinking problem.
• He doesn't really see the problem.
• He doesn't seem to understand my problem.
• He had to undergo surgery to cure the problem with his knee.
• He has been faced with all manner of problems in his new job.
• Her new job had taken her mind off her family problems for a while.
• His teachers say he has an attitude problem.
• I didn't imagine there would be a problem about getting tickets.
• I don't anticipate any future problems in that regard.
• I forgot my problems for a moment.
• I have five problems to do for homework.
• I'm glad you finally admitted your problem.
• If the problem persists you should see a doctor.
• Inadequate resources pose a problem for all members of staff.
• Most people can see the ethical problem with accepting such an offer.
• No one ever asked why or how the problem originated.
• One out of every five people is a problem drinker.
• Our greatest problem is the lack of funds.
• She had serious substance abuse problems with both cocaine and heroin.
• She raised the problem of falling sales at the last meeting.
• Staff shortages cause problems for the organization.
• Success brings its own problems.
• Systemic security problems have been identified.
• The accident poses a terrible problem for the family.
• The basic problem remains the lack of available housing.
• The next meeting will address the problem of obesity.
• The plan has been fraught with problems from the start.
• The problem lies in the lack of communication between managers and staff.
• The rail strike is a problem for all commuters.
• The role of the sun in climate change is still a big unsolved problem.
• The traffic in illegal drugs is a global problem.
• Therein lies the problem.
• These symptoms may indicate a serious problem.
• They blame the problem on the new prescription drug law.
• They created a task force to study this problem.
• They sold their car to ease their financial problems.
• This illustrates another potential problem.
• This kind of activity develops the children's problem-solving skills.
• This underscores the biggest problem with electronic voting.
• Unforeseen problems often arise.
• We had communication problems.
• We need to get to the root of the problem before we can solve it.
• We're faced with a whole host of new problems.
• a new approach to problem drinking
• a problem resulting from technical inadequacy
• an elegant solution to a very complex set of problems
• an important step in battling the terrorist problem
• problems arising from poor ventilation
• solving simple mathematical problems
• the ability to solve simple mathematical problems
• the inherent problems of merging two very different companies
• the problem of poverty
• the problems attributed to capitalism
• the underlying problem that's causing your high blood pressure
• ‘But what am I supposed to do now?’ ‘Don't ask me— it's not my problem/that's your problem.
• ‘Can I pay by credit card?’ ‘Yes, no problem.’
• If he chooses Mary it's bound to cause problems.
• It's a nice table. The only problem is it's too big for the room.
• Most students face the problem of funding themselves while they study.
• Stop worrying about their marriage— it isn't your problem.
• There's no history of heart problems in our family.
• This is one of the great problems of cosmology: where did the overall structure of the universe come from?
• a mathematical/philosophical problem

Idioms: have a problem with something ▪ it's not my problem ▪ no problem ▪ that's her problem ▪ what's your problem?

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

problem / ˈprɒb.ləm / / ˈprɑː.bləm / noun [ C ]

A1 a situation, person, or thing that needs attention and needs to be dealt with or solved:

financial/health problems

Our main problem is lack of cash.

I'm having problems with my computer.

No one has solved the problem of what to do with radioactive waste.

The very high rate of inflation poses/presents (= is) a serious problem for the government.

When is the government going to tackle (= deal with) the problem of poverty in the inner cities?

[ + -ing verb ] Did you have any problems (= difficulties) gett ing here?

I'd love to come - the only problem is I've got friends staying that night.

a question in mathematics that needs an answer:

We were given ten problems to solve.

problem child, family, etc.

a child, etc. whose behaviour is bad

Word partners for problem

experience / have a problem • cause / create / pose / present a problem • a problem faces sb • address / deal with / tackle a problem • a problem arises / comes up / occurs • a big / major / real / serious problem • a problem with sth • the problem of sth

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

problem

[prɒ̱bləm]
♦
problems
1) N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of/with n A problem is a situation that is unsatisfactory and causes difficulties for people.
  ...the economic problems of the inner city...
  The main problem is unemployment...
  He told Americans that solving the energy problem was very important...
  I do not have a simple solution to the drug problem.
2) N-COUNT A problem is a puzzle that requires logical thought or mathematics to solve it.
  With mathematical problems, you can save time by approximating.
3) ADJ: ADJ n Problem children or problem families have serious problems or cause serious problems for other people.
  In some cases a problem child is placed in a special school...
  She is afraid to contact the social services in case they are labelled a problem family.
  Syn:
  difficult
4) CONVENTION You say `no problem' to show that you are willing to do what you have been asked. [INFORMAL, SPOKEN]
  `Can you repair it?' - `No problem'...
  If the property needs a new dishwasher, no problem, just put it on a credit card.
5) CONVENTION You say `no problem' to let someone know that you do not mind them doing something they have said they are going to do. [INFORMAL, SPOKEN]
  `I ought to think about going actually. If that's all right with you.' - `Yeah. No problem.'...
  If they don't want to speak to me, fine. No problem.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹prob·lem /ˈprɑːbləm/ noun, pl -lems
1 [count] : something that is difficult to deal with : something that is a source of trouble, worry, etc.
• Racism and sexism are major social problems.
• The company is having financial problems.
• She has a drug problem. [=she is addicted to drugs]
• He has chronic health/medical problems.
• She has a weight problem. [=her weight is not healthy]
• The mechanic fixed the problem with the car.
• There are a few problems with your argument.
• We have to find a way to solve this problem.
• She is bothered by family/personal/marriage problems.
• We didn't have any problems getting here.
• I have my own problems to deal with.
• Mosquitoes are a problem in the summer.
• When he drinks too much, he causes problems.
• The problem with you is that you're too stubborn.
• We would love to have a dog. The only problem is (that) [=the reason that would be difficult is] we don't have the time to take care of it.
• The fact that you're late is not my problem. [=I am not responsible for helping you deal with the problem of being late]
2 [singular]
a : difficulty in understanding something
• I'm having a problem following your argument.
b : a feeling of not liking or wanting to do something
• “We'll have to leave a little early.” “OK, I don't have a problem with that.” [=that doesn't bother me]
• “He says he won't go.” “What's his problem?” [=why is he being so unreasonable?]
3 [count] : a mathematical question to be solved
• a math problem
• Solve these problems for homework.
no problem also not a problem informal
- used to say that you are happy to do something or that you are not bothered by something
• “Thanks for your help.” “No problem.”
• “I'm sorry for interrupting you.” “No problem.”
• “Can you get this done by lunchtime?” “No problem.”
• “I would like to pay with my credit card.” “Not a problem.”

American English

British English

difficult things and people

A1 (Basic)

noun

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