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[meyk] /meɪk/

verb (used with object), made, making.
1.
to bring into existence by shaping or changing material, combining parts, etc.:
to make a dress; to make a channel; to make a work of art.
2.
to produce; cause to exist or happen; bring about:
to make trouble; to make war.
3.
to cause to be or become; render:
to make someone happy.
4.
to appoint or name:
The president made her his special envoy.
5.
to put in the proper condition or state, as for use; fix; prepare:
to make a bed; to make dinner.
6.
to bring into a certain form:
to make bricks out of clay.
7.
to convert from one state, condition, category, etc., to another:
to make a virtue of one’s vices.
8.
to cause, induce, or compel:
to make a horse jump a barrier.
9.
to give rise to; occasion:
It’s not worth making a fuss over such a trifle.
10.
to produce, earn, or win for oneself:
to make a good salary; to make one’s fortune in oil.
11.
to write or compose:
to make a short poem for the occasion.
12.
to draw up, as a legal document; draft:
to make a will.
13.
to do; effect:
to make a bargain.
14.
to establish or enact; put into existence:
to make laws.
15.
to become by development; prove to be:
You’ll make a good lawyer.
16.
to form in the mind, as a judgment or estimate:
to make a decision.
17.
to judge or interpret, as to the truth, nature, meaning, etc. (often followed by of):
What do you make of it?
18.
to estimate; reckon:
to make the distance at ten miles.
19.
to bring together separate parts so as to produce a whole; compose; form:
to make a matched set.
20.
to amount to; bring up the total to:
Two plus two makes four. That makes an even dozen.
21.
to serve as:
to make good reading.
22.
to be sufficient to constitute:
One story does not make a writer.
23.
to be adequate or suitable for:
This wool will make a warm sweater.
24.
to assure the success or fortune of:
a deal that could make or break him; Seeing her made my day.
25.
to deliver, utter, or put forth:
to make a stirring speech.
26.
to go or travel at a particular speed:
to make 60 miles an hour.
27.
to arrive at or reach; attain:
The ship made port on Friday. Do you think he’ll make 80?
28.
to arrive in time for:
to make the first show.
29.
to arrive in time to be a passenger on (a plane, boat, bus, train, etc.):
If you hurry, you can make the next flight.
30.
Informal. to gain or acquire a position within:
He made the big time.
31.
to receive mention or appear in or on:
The robbery made the front page.
32.
to gain recognition or honor by winning a place or being chosen for inclusion in or on:
The novel made the bestseller list. He made the all-American team three years in a row.
33.
Slang. to have sexual intercourse with.
34.
Cards.

35.
to earn, as a score:
The team made 40 points in the first half.
36.
Slang.

37.
to close (an electric circuit).
38.
South Midland and Southern U.S. to plant and cultivate or produce (a crop):
He makes some of the best corn in the country.
verb (used without object), made, making.
39.
to cause oneself, or something understood, to be as specified:
to make sure.
40.
to show oneself to be or seem in action or behavior (usually followed by an adjective):
to make merry.
41.
to be made, as specified:
This fabric makes up into beautiful drapes.
42.
to move or proceed in a particular direction:
They made after the thief.
43.
to rise, as the tide or water in a ship.
44.
South Midland and Southern U.S. (of a crop) to grow, develop, or mature:
It looks like the corn’s going to make pretty good this year.
45.
make down, Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to rain or snow:
It’s making down hard.
46.
make fast, Chiefly Nautical. to fasten or secure.
47.
make shut, Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to close:
Make the door shut.
noun
48.
the style or manner in which something is made; form; build.
49.
production with reference to the manufacturer; brand:
our own make.
50.
disposition; character; nature.
51.
the act or process of making.
52.
quantity made; output.
53.
Cards. the act of naming the trump, or the suit named as trump.
54.
Electricity. the closing of an electric circuit.
55.
Jewelry. the excellence of a polished diamond with regard to proportion, symmetry, and finish.
56.
Slang. identifying information about a person or thing from police records:
He radioed headquarters for a make on the car’s license plate.
Verb phrases
57.
make out,

58.
make over,

59.
make for,

60.
make off,

61.
make off with, to carry away; steal:
While the family was away, thieves made off with most of their valuables.
62.
make on, Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to turn on, light, or ignite (especially a light or fire):
Make the light on.
63.
make up,

64.
make up to,

Idioms
65.
make a play for, to try to get:
He made a play for his brother’s girlfriend. They made a play for control of the company’s stock.
66.
make as if / as though, Informal. to act as if; pretend:
We will make as if to leave, then come back and surprise him.
67.
make away with,

68.
make believe, to pretend; imagine:
The little girl dressed in a sheet and made believe she was a ghost.
69.
make (so) bold, to have the temerity; be so rash; dare:
May I make so bold as to suggest that you stand when they enter?
70.
make book, Slang.

71.
make colors, Nautical. to hoist an ensign, as on board a warship.
72.
make do, to function, manage, or operate, usually on a deprivation level with minimal requirements:
During the war we had no butter or coffee, so we had to make do without them.
73.
make good,

74.
make heavy weather,

75.
make it,

76.
make it so, Nautical. strike the ship’s bell accordingly: said by the officer of the watch when the hour is announced.
77.
make like, Informal. to try or pretend to be like; imitate:
I’m going to go out and make like a gardener.
78.
make one’s manners, Southern U.S.

79.
make sail, Nautical.

80.
make time. (def 52).
81.
make water,

82.
make with, Slang.

83.
on the make, Informal.

84.
put the make on, Slang. to make sexual overtures to.
[pley] /pleɪ/
noun
1.
a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
2.
a dramatic performance, as on the stage.
3.
exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.
4.
fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness:
I said it merely in play.
5.
a pun.
6.
the playing, action, or conduct of a game:
The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play.
7.
the manner or style of playing or of doing something:
We admired his fine play throughout the game.
8.
an act or instance of playing or of doing something:
a stupid play that cost us the match.
9.
one’s turn to play:
Whose play is it?
10.
a playing for stakes; gambling.
11.
an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver:
They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play.
12.
an enterprise or venture; deal:
an oil and drilling play.
13.
action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind:
fair play; foul play.
14.
action, activity, or operation:
the play of fancy.
15.
brisk, light, or changing movement or action:
a fountain with a leaping play of water.
16.
elusive change or movement, as of light or colors:
the play of a searchlight against the night sky.
17.
a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move.
18.
freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism.
19.
freedom for action, or scope for activity:
full play of the mind.
20.
attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news:
The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers.
21.
an act or instance of being broadcast:
The governor’s speech got two plays on our local station.
verb (used with object)
22.
to act the part of (a person or character) in a dramatic performance; portray:
to play Lady Macbeth.
23.
to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.) on or as if on the stage.
24.
to act or sustain (a part) in a dramatic performance or in real life:
to play the role of benefactor.
25.
to act the part or character of in real life:
to play the fool; to play God.
26.
to give performances in, as a theatrical company does:
to play the larger cities.
27.
to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.).
28.
to contend against in a game.
29.
to function or perform as (a specified player) in a game or competition:
He usually plays left end.
30.
to employ (a piece of equipment, a , etc.) in a game:
I played my highest card.
31.
to use as if in playing a game, as for one’s own advantage:
He played his brothers against each other.
32.
to stake or wager, as in a game.
33.
to lay a wager or wagers on (something).
34.
to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest:
to play cowboys and Indians.
35.
to perform on (a musical instrument).
36.
to perform (music) on an instrument.
37.
to cause (a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to produce sound or pictures:
to play a tape; to play the radio.
38.
to do or perform:
You shouldn’t play tricks. Compromise plays an important part in marriage.
39.
to carry or put into operation; act upon:
to play a hunch.
40.
to cause to move or change lightly or quickly:
to play colored lights on a fountain.
41.
to operate or cause to operate, especially continuously or with repeated action:
to play a hose on a fire.
42.
to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line.
43.
to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), especially prominently:
Play the flood photos on page one.
44.
to exploit or trade in (an investment, business opportunity, stock, etc.).
verb (used without object)
45.
to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation.
46.
to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously.
47.
to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often followed by with).
48.
to take part or engage in a game.
49.
to take part in a game for stakes; gamble.
50.
to conduct oneself or act in a specified way:
to play fair.
51.
to act on or as if on the stage; perform.
52.
to perform on a musical instrument.
53.
(of an instrument or music) to sound in performance:
The strings are playing well this evening.
54.
(of a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to give forth sound:
The radio played all night.
55.
to be performed or shown:
What’s playing at the movie theater around the corner?
56.
to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script:
We hope this scene will play well.
57.
Informal. to be accepted or effective; fare:
How will the senator’s proposal play with the public?
58.
to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism.
59.
to move about lightly or quickly:
The water of the fountain played in the air.
60.
to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance:
The lights played strangely over the faces of the actors.
61.
to operate continuously or with repeated action.
62.
Informal. to comply or cooperate:
They wanted her to tell them what she knew about the plans, but she refused to play.
Verb phrases
63.
play along,

64.
play around, Informal.

65.
play at,

66.
play back, to play (a recording, especially one newly made):
Play it back and let’s hear how I sound.
67.
play down, to treat as of little importance; belittle:
He has consistently played down his own part in the successful enterprise.
68.
play off,

69.
play on/upon, to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of:
She would never think of playing on the good nature of others.
70.
play out,

71.
play up, to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize:
The schools are playing up their science programs.
Idioms
72.
bring into play, to put into motion; cause to be introduced:
New evidence has been brought into play in this trial.
73.
come to play, Informal. to be disposed to play or participate in a manner reflecting a determination to win or succeed:
We’re a small new business, but we came to play.
74.
in / out of play, in or not in the state of being played during a game:
The umpire says the ball was not in play.
75.
make a play for, Informal.

76.
play ball. 1 (def 24).
77.
play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself.
78.
play by ear, to play (music or a musical instrument) without printed music, as by memory of what one has heard or by unschooled musical instinct.
79.
played out,

80.
play fast and loose, to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner, especially to employ deception to gain one’s ends:
to play fast and loose with someone’s affections.
81.
play for time, to prolong something in order to gain an advantage; forestall an event or decision:
Their maneuvering at the conference was obviously calculated to play for time.
82.
play hardball. (def 4).
83.
play into the hands of, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, especially an opponent):
If you lose your temper when he insults you, you will be playing right into his hands.
Also, play into (someone’s) hands.
84.
play it by ear, to improvise, especially in a challenging situation when confronted by unknown factors:
If you can’t come up with a plan, we’ll just have to play it by ear.
85.
play it safe, to act cautiously; avoid risk or danger:
She usually plays it safe on the red carpet, wearing simple, classic designs.
Also, play safe.
86.
play one’s cards. 1 (def 21).
87.
play politics. (def 8).
88.
play possum. (def 3).
89.
play second fiddle. (def 1).
90.
play the field. (def 39).
91.
play the game. 1 (def 25).
92.
play up to, Informal. to attempt to impress in order to gain someone’s favor:
Students who too obviously play up to their teachers are usually disliked by their classmates.
93.
play with a full deck. (def 23).
94.
play with fire. (def 54).
95.
play with oneself, Informal. to masturbate.
/meɪk/
verb (mainly transitive) makes, making, made
1.
to bring into being by shaping, changing, or combining materials, ideas, etc; form or fashion; create: to make a chair from bits of wood, make a poem
2.
to draw up, establish, or form: to make a decision, make one’s will
3.
to cause to exist, bring about, or produce: don’t make a noise
4.
to cause, compel, or induce: please make him go away
5.
to appoint or assign, as to a rank or position: they made him chairman
6.
to constitute: one swallow doesn’t make a summer
7.
(also intransitive) to come or cause to come into a specified state or condition: to make merry, make someone happy
8.
(copula) to be or become through development: he will make a good teacher
9.
to cause or ensure the success of: your news has made my day
10.
to amount to: twelve inches make a foot
11.
to be part of or a member of: did she make one of the party?
12.
to serve as or be suitable for: that piece of cloth will make a coat
13.
to prepare or put into a fit condition for use: to make a bed
14.
to be the essential element in or part of: charm makes a good salesman
15.
to carry out, effect, or do: to make a gesture
16.
(intransitive; foll by to, as if to, or as though to) to act with the intention or with a show of doing something: they made to go out, he made as if to hit her
17.
to use for a specified purpose: I will make this town my base
18.
to deliver or pronounce: to make a speech
19.
to judge, reckon, or give one’s own opinion or information as to: what time do you make it?
20.
to cause to seem or represent as being: that furniture makes the room look dark
21.
to earn, acquire, or win for oneself: to make friends, make a fortune
22.
to engage in: make love not war
23.
to traverse or cover (distance) by travelling: we can make a hundred miles by nightfall
24.
to arrive in time for: he didn’t make the first act of the play
25.
(cards)

26.
(cricket) to score (runs)
27.
(electronics) to close (a circuit) permitting a flow of current Compare break (sense 44)
28.
(intransitive) to increase in depth: the water in the hold was making a foot a minute
29.
(intransitive) (of hay) to dry and mature
30.
(informal) to gain a place or position on or in: to make the headlines, make the first team
31.
(informal) to achieve the rank of
32.
(slang) to seduce
33.
make a book, to take bets on a race or other contest
34.
make a day of it, to cause an activity to last a day
35.
make a night of it, to cause an activity to last a night
36.
make do, See do1 (sense 37)
37.
make eyes at, to flirt with or ogle
38.
make good, See good (sense 44)
39.
(nautical) make heavy weather, to roll and pitch in heavy seas
40.
(informal) make heavy weather of something, to carry something out with great difficulty or unnecessarily great effort
41.
make it

42.
(slang, mainly US & Canadian) make like, to imitate
43.
make love

44.
make love to someone

45.
make or break, to bring success or ruin
46.
make time, See time (sense 45)
47.
make water

noun
48.
brand, type, or style: what make of car is that?
49.
the manner or way in which something is made
50.
disposition or character; make-up
51.
the act or process of making
52.
the amount or number made
53.
(bridge) the contract to be played
54.
(cards) a player’s turn to shuffle
55.
on the make

/meɪk/
noun (archaic)
1.
a peer or consort
2.
a mate or spouse
/pleɪ/
verb
1.
to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)
2.
(transitive) to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or game: Ed played Tony at chess and lost
3.
to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team game: he plays defence, he plays in the defence
4.
(transitive) to address oneself to (a ball) in a game: play the ball not the man
5.
(intransitive; often foll by about or around) to behave carelessly, esp in a way that is unconsciously cruel or hurtful; trifle or dally (with): to play about with a young girl’s affections
6.
when intr, often foll by at. to perform or act the part (of) in or as in a dramatic production; assume or simulate the role (of): to play the villain, just what are you playing at?
7.
to act out or perform (a dramatic production)
8.
to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place
9.
(intransitive) to be received: How will these policies play in Middle England?
10.
to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument): David plays the harp
11.
to perform (on a musical instrument) as specified: he plays out of tune
12.
(transitive)

13.
to discharge or cause to discharge: he played the water from the hose onto the garden
14.
to operate, esp to cause (a record player, radio, etc) to emit sound or (of a record player, radio, etc) to emit (sound): he played a record, the radio was playing loudly
15.
to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularly: lights played on the scenery
16.
(transitive) (stock exchange) to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)
17.
(transitive) (angling) to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod’s flexibility
18.
to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play
19.
to gamble (money) on a game
20.
(informal) play ball, to cooperate
21.
play fair, play fair with someone, to prove oneself fair in one’s dealings
22.
play false, play fair with someone, to prove oneself unfair in one’s dealings
23.
play by ear, See ear1 (sense 19)
24.
play for time, to delay the outcome of some activity so as to gain time to one’s own advantage
25.
play into the hands of, to act directly to the advantage of (an opponent)
26.
play the fool, See fool1 (sense 7)
27.
play the game, See game1 (sense 22)
noun
28.
a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama
29.

30.

31.
manner of action, conduct, or playing: fair play
32.
the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progress: rain stopped play
33.
(US & Canadian) a move or manoeuvre in a game: a brilliant play
34.
the situation of a ball that is within the defined area and being played according to the rules (in the phrases in play, out of play)
35.
a turn to play: it’s my play
36.
the act of playing for stakes; gambling
37.
action, activity, or operation: the play of the imagination
38.
freedom of or scope or space for movement: too much play in the rope
39.
light, free, or rapidly shifting motion: the play of light on the water
40.
fun, jest, or joking: I only did it in play
41.
call into play, to bring into operation
42.
(informal) make a play for

v.

Old English plegan, plegian “move rapidly, occupy or busy oneself, exercise; frolic; make sport of, mock; perform music,” from West Germanic *plegan “occupy oneself about” (cf. Old Saxon plegan “vouch for, take charge of,” Old Frisian plega “tend to,” Middle Dutch pleyen “to rejoice, be glad,” German pflegen “take care of, cultivate”), from PIE root *dlegh- “to engage oneself,” forming words in Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, and possibly Latin.

Meaning “to take part in a game” is from c.1200. Opposed to work (v.) since late 14c. Related: Played; playing. To play up “emphasize” is from 1909; to play down “minimize” is from 1930; to play along “cooperate” is from 1929. To play with oneself “masturbate” is from 1896; play for keeps is from 1861, originally of marbles or other children’s games with tokens. To play second fiddle in the figurative sense is from 1809 (“Gil Blas”). To play into the hands (of someone) is from 1705. To play the _______ card is attested from 1886; to play fair is from mid-15c. To play (something) safe is from 1911; to play favorites is attested from 1902. For play the field see field (n.).
n.

Old English plega (West Saxon), plæga (Anglian) “quick motion; recreation, exercise, any brisk activity” (the latter sense preserved in swordplay, etc.), from or related to Old English plegan (see play (v.)). Meaning “dramatic performance” is attested by early 14c., perhaps late Old English. Meaning “free or unimpeded movement” of mechanisms, etc., is from c.1200. By early Middle English it could mean variously, “a game, a martial sport, activity of children, joke or jesting, revelry, sexual indulgence.” Sporting sense “the playing of a game” first attested mid-15c.; sense of “specific maneuver or attempt” is from 1868. To be in play (of a hit ball, etc.) is from 1788. Play-by-play is attested from 1927. Play on words is from 1798. Play-money is attested from 1705 as “money won in gambling,” by 1920 as “pretend money.”
v.

Old English macian “to make, form, construct, do; prepare, arrange, cause; behave, fare, transform,” from West Germanic *makon “to fashion, fit” (cf. Old Saxon makon, Old Frisian makia “to build, make,” Middle Dutch and Dutch maken, Old High German mahhon “to construct, make,” German machen “to make”), from PIE *mag- “to knead, mix; to fashion, fit” (see macerate). If so, sense evolution perhaps is via prehistoric houses built of mud. Gradually replaced the main Old English word, gewyrcan (see work (v.)).

Meaning “to arrive at” (a place), first attested 1620s, originally was nautical. Formerly used in many places where specific verbs now are used, e.g. to make Latin (c.1500) “to write Latin compositions.” This broader usage survives in some phrases, e.g. to make water “to urinate,” to make a book “arrange a series of bets” (1828), make hay “to turn over mown grass to expose it to sun.” Make the grade is 1912, perhaps from the notion of railway engines going up an incline.

Read the valuable suggestions in Dr. C.V. Mosby’s book — be prepared to surmount obstacles before you encounter them — equipped with the power to “make the grade” in life’s climb. [advertisement for “Making the Grade,” December 1916]

But the phrase also was in use in a schoolwork context at the time. Make do “manage with what is available” is attested from 1867. Make time “go fast” is 1849; make tracks in this sense is from 1834. To make a federal case out of (something) popularized in 1959 movie “Anatomy of a Murder;” to make an offer (one) can’t refuse is from Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel “The Godfather.” To make (one’s) day is from 1909; menacing make my day is from 1971, popularized by Clint Eastwood in film “Sudden Impact” (1983). Related: Made; making.

n.

“match, mate, companion” (now archaic or dialectal), from Old English gemaca “mate, equal; one of a pair, comrade; consort, husband, wife,” from Proto-Germanic *gamakon-, related to Old English gemæcc “well-matched, suitable,” macian “to make” (see make (v.)). Meaning “manner in which something is made, design, construction” is from c.1300. Phrase on the make “intent on profit or advancement” is from 1869.

noun

Publicity; media coverage: The dangers of the Free Trade Agreement are getting more play (1929+)

verb

Related Terms

bonehead play, grandstand play, make a play for

noun

verb

Related Terms

easy make, on the make, on the take, put the make on someone, run a make