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game1

  • noun 1 an activity engaged in for amusement. 2 a form of competitive activity or sport played according to rules. 3 a complete episode or period of play, ending in a final result. 4 a single portion of play, forming a scoring unit within a game. 5 (games) a meeting for sporting contests. 6 the equipment used in playing a board game, computer game, etc. 7 a type of activity or business regarded as a game. 8 a secret plan or trick. 9 wild mammals or birds hunted for sport or food.

  • adjective eager and willing to do something new or challenging: they were game for anything.

  • verb play at games of chance for money.

  — PHRASES ahead of the game ahead of one’s competitors or peers. beat someone at their own game use someone’s own methods to outdo them. the game is up the deception or crime is revealed or foiled. on the game Brit. informal working as a prostitute. play the game behave in a fair or honourable way; abide by the rules.

  — DERIVATIVES gamely adverb gameness noun gamester noun.

  — ORIGIN Old English, amusement, fun.

 

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