Game Definition

gām
gamed, gamer, games, gamest, gaming
noun
games
Any form of play or way of playing; amusement; recreation; sport; frolic; play.
Webster's New World
An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime.
Party games; word games.
American Heritage
A single contest in such a competition.
To win two out of three games.
Webster's New World

A subdivision of a set, consisting of a series of at least four consecutive serves by a single player.

Webster's New World
A subdivision of any of certain other contests.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
gamed, games, gaming
To take advantage of or manipulate to one's own advantage.
To game the system, game an election.
Webster's New World
To manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; rig.
Executives who gamed the system to get huge payoffs.
American Heritage
To play cards, etc. for stakes; gamble.
Webster's New World
To play computer or video games.
Webster's New World

To exploit loopholes in a system or bureaucracy in a way which defeats or nullifies the spirit of the rules in effect, usually to obtain a result which otherwise would be unobtainable.

We'll bury them in paperwork, and game the system.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
adjective
gamer, gamest
Designating or of wild birds or animals hunted for sport or for use as food.
Webster's New World
Plucky; courageous.
Webster's New World
Having enough spirit or enthusiasm; ready (for something)
Webster's New World
Lame or injured.
Webster's New World
(of an animal) That shows a tendency to continue to fight against another animal, despite being wounded, often severely.
Wiktionary
idiom
ahead of the game
  • In a position of advantage; winning or succeeding.
American Heritage
be on (one's) game
  • To play a sport with great skill.
American Heritage
the only game in town
  • The only one of its kind available:
American Heritage
ahead of the game
  • in the position of winning, esp. in gambling
Webster's New World
die game
  • to die bravely and still fighting
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Game

Noun

Singular:
game
Plural:
games

Adjective

Base Form:
game
Comparative:
gamer
Superlative:
gamest

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Game

Origin of Game

  • From Middle English game, gamen, gammen, from Old English gamen (“sport, joy, mirth, pastime, game, amusement, pleasure”), from Proto-Germanic *gamaną (“amusement, pleasure, game", literally "participation, communion, people together”), from *ga- (collective prefix) + *mann- (“man”), equivalent to ge- +‎ man; or alternatively from *ga- + a root from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think, have in mind”), equivalent to ge- +‎ mind. Cognate with Middle High German gamen (“joy, amusement, fun, pleasure”), Swedish gamman (“mirth, rejoicing, merriment”), Icelandic gaman (“fun”). Related to gammon, gamble.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English gamen

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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