player

¹

[pley-er]

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.

Player

²

[pley-er]

noun

1. Gary, born 1935, South African golfer.

player

¹

/ 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

Player

²

/ ˈpleɪə /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of player¹

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

Example Sentences

"Conor Bradley was the best player on the pitch by a mile, in my opinion," said the Sunderland defender whose first international strike sealed the three crucial points late on.

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We've brought back our Guess the Footballers format - and there are 10 players to get.

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And if we look at players' xG in the Premier League so far this season from normal play, the Norway forward is getting so many more good opportunities to score than anyone else.

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You can take short cuts by bringing in transfers and hiring questionable assistants who try to use their connections to gain new players.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Whereas some players would be unnerved by the big occasion Farrell, in contrast, thrives off his nerves.

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Related Words

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