player

¹ American  

[pley-er] / ˈpleɪ ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that plays.

2. a person who takes part or is skilled in some game or sport.

3. a person who plays parts on the stage; an actor.

4. a performer on a musical instrument.

5. Informal. a participant, as in a conference or business deal.

6. a machine or piece of software that reproduces sound or images: a videodisc player;

   a record player;

   a videodisc player;

   a digital media player.

7. a gambler.

8. Slang. a person engaged in illicit or illegal activity, especially a pimp.

9. a mechanical device by which a musical instrument, as a player piano, is played automatically.

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Player ² American  

[pley-er] / ˈpleɪ ər /

noun

1. Gary, born 1935, South African golfer.

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player ¹ British  

/ ˈpleɪə /

noun

1. a person who participates in or is skilled at some game or sport

2. a person who plays a game or sport professionally

3. a person who plays a musical instrument

4. an actor

5. informal a participant, esp a powerful one, in a particular field of activity

   a leading city player

6. See record player

7. the playing mechanism in a Pianola

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Player ² British  

/ ˈpleɪə /

noun

1. Gary (ˈɡærɪ). born 1935, South African golfer: winner of nine major championships (1959–78), including the British Open (1959, 1968, 1974)

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Other Word Forms

• counterplayer noun
• nonplayer noun
• self-player noun
• superplayer noun

Etymology

Origin of player

before 1000; Middle English pleyer, Old English plegere. See play, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Yes it does, because it's changing a player.

From BBC

"They are two very good players," experienced flanker Charles Ollivon told reporters.

From Barron's

Screens will balloon to such absurd proportions that you’ll recruit the tallest NBA player in history to demonstrate how to properly use them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Smaller players in the space also feel the pressure, with Discovery Silver and Endeavour Silver both falling 11%, and First Majestic Silver sliding 10%.

From The Wall Street Journal

“You know what these tight ends are so relaxed about?” asks former National Football League coach Bruce Arians in an ad for Novartis also starring current and former players.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• athlete
• competitor
• member
• opponent
• participant
• pro
• professional
• rookie