play

/pleɪ/ verb

Definition

A1 When you play a sport or game, you compete or are involved in it: Sam plays tennis every weekend. We often used to play cards.

A1 When children play, they enjoy themselves with toys and games: She likes to play with her dolls.

A2 to make music with a musical instrument: Tim was playing the piano.

A2 to make a CD, DVD, etc. produce sounds or pictures: Can you play that song again?

B1 to be a character in a movie or play: Who played Darth Vader in Star Wars?

B1 to compete against a person or team in a game: Who is playing in the championship?

play a joke/trick on someone › to make someone believe something that is not true as a joke: The class played a trick on the teacher.

(Definition of play verb from the Webster's Essential Mini Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

to not be trusted or popular because people think you have done something bad

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