Translation of "play" - English-Spanish dictionary

play

verb uk ​ /pleɪ/ us ​ /pleɪ/

A1 When you play a sport or game, you compete or are involved in it.

jugar (a)
Sam plays tennis every weekend.
We often used to play cards.

A1 When children play, they enjoy themselves with toys and games.

jugar
She likes to play with her dolls.

A2 to make music with a musical instrument

tocar
Tim was playing the piano.

A2 to make a CD, DVD, etc. produce sounds or pictures

poner
Can you play that song again?

B1 to be a character in a movie or play

interpretar
Who played Darth Vader in Star Wars?

B1 to compete against a person or team in a game

competir (con)
Who are Brazil playing in the final?
play a joke/trick on someone

› to make someone believe something that is not true as a joke

gastar una broma a alguien
The class played a trick on the teacher.
play your cards right

› to behave in the right way so that you get an advantage or succeed in something

jugar las cartas bien
If you play your cards right, you could make quite a lot of money out of this.
noun uk ​ /pleɪ/ us ​ /pleɪ/

A2 a story that is written for actors to perform, usually in a theatre

obra
We saw a play at the theatre.

› [ no plural ] things that people, especially children, do to enjoy themselves

juego
a play area

(Translation of “play” from the Cambridge English-Spanish Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

play

verb /plei/

› to amuse oneself

jugar
The child is playing in the garden
He is playing with his toys
The little girl wants to play with her friends.

› to take part in (games etc)

jugar (a)
He plays football
He is playing in goal
Here’s a pack of cards – who wants to play (with me)?
I’m playing golf with him this evening.

› to act in a play etc; to act (a character)

representar, actuar
She’s playing Lady Macbeth
The company is playing in London this week.

› (of a play etc) to be performed

ser representado
’Oklahoma’ is playing at the local theatre.

› to (be able to) perform on (a musical instrument)

tocar
She plays the piano
Who was playing the piano this morning?
He plays (the oboe) in an orchestra.

› (usually with on) to carry out or do (a trick)

gastar una broma (a alguien)
He played a trick on me.

› (usually with at) to compete against (someone) in a game etc

jugar contra
I’ll play you at tennis.

› (of light) to pass with a flickering movement

rielar, bailar
The firelight played across the ceiling.

› to direct (over or towards something)

dirigir
The firemen played their hoses over the burning house.

› to put down or produce (a playing-card) as part of a card game

jugar
He played the seven of hearts.
player noun

›

jugador
a cricket/football/hockey player.
playable adjective

› (opposite unplayable) (of a ground, pitch etc) not good enough for a game to be played on it

en condiciones para jugar, bueno para jugar
Because of the rain the referee decided the ground was not playable.
playful adjective

› happy; full of the desire to play

juguetón
a playful kitten.

› joking; not serious

gracioso, en broma, chistoso
a playful remark.
playfully adverb

›

en broma, con gracia
She playfully ruffled his hair.
playfulness noun

›

carácter juguetón, jocosidad
playboy noun

› a rich man who spends his time and money on pleasure.

playboy
playground noun

› an area in which children can play in a park, outside a school etc

patio de recreo
a school playground.
playing card noun

› one of a pack of cards used in card games.

carta, naipe
playing field noun

› a field which is specially prepared and used for sport

campo de juego
a school playing field.
playmate noun

› a childhood friend.

compañero de juegos
playpen noun

› a small wooden structure with bars on every side in which a small child can play safely.

parque para niños
playschool noun

› an informal nursery school.

jardín de infancia, guardería
playscript noun

› the written text of a play, which is used by actors during rehearsals

Obra de Teatro
He lent me a copy of the playscript.
plaything noun

› a toy.

juguete
playtime noun

› a set time for children to play (at school etc)

recreo
The children go outside at playtime.
playwright noun

› a person who writes plays

dramaturgo
He is a famous playwright.
at play

› playing

jugando, que juegan
There are children at play in the area.
bring/come into play

› to (cause to) be used or exercised

ejercitar, utilizar
The job allowed him to bring all his talents into play.
child’s play noun

› something that is very easy

juego de niños, pan comido
Of course you can do it – it’s child’s play!
in play ( out of play)

› (of a ball) according to the rules of the game, (not) in a position where it can be hit, kicked etc

dentro/fuera de juego
The ball landed just out of play.
play at phrasal verb

› to pretend to be etc

jugar a
The children were playing at cowboys and Indians.

› used when asking angrily what someone is doing

jugar a
What does he think he’s playing at (=doing)?
play back phrasal verb

› to play (music, speech etc ) on a record or tape after it has just been recorded (nounplay-back)

volver a poner
play down phrasal verb

› to try to make (something) appear less important

quitar importancia (a), minimizar
He played down the fact that he had failed the exam.
play fair

› to act honestly and fairly

jugar limpio
If a player doesn’t play fair, he will be sent off.
play for time

› to delay an action, decision etc in the hope that conditions will improve

ganar tiempo
He took the ball near the corner flag in order to play for time.
play havoc with

› to cause a lot of damage to

hacer/causar estragos
The storm played havoc with the farmer’s crops.
play into someone’s hands

› to do exactly what an opponent or enemy wants one to do

hacerle el juego a alguien
We have to be careful not to play into their hands by reacting angrily to any deliberate provocation.
play off phrasal verb

› (in games) to play a final deciding game after a draw (nounplay-off)

jugar el desempate
play off against phrasal verb

› to set (one person) against (another) in order to gain an advantage

oponer una persona a otra
He played his father off against his mother to get more pocket money.
play on phrasal verb

› to make use of (someone’s feelings, fears etc)

aprovecharse (de), explotar
He played on my sympathy until I lent him $10.
play a/no part in

› (not) to be one of the people who are doing (something)

(no) tomar parte, (no) participar
He played no part in the robbery.
play safe

› to take no risks

ir a lo seguro, no arriesgarse
The defender opted to play it safe and kicked the ball out for a throw-in.
play the game

› to act fairly and honestly.

jugar limpio
play up phrasal verb

› to be troublesome or disobedient

dar la lata, portarse mal, hacer de las suyas
The children are playing up today.

(Translation of “play” from the PASSWORD English-Spanish Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

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