–noun

1.	an amusement or pastime: children's games.

2.	the material or equipment used in playing certain games: a store selling toys and games.

3.	a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators.

4.	a single occasion of such an activity, or a definite portion of one: the final game of the season; a rubber of three games at bridge.

5.	the number of points required to win a game.

6.	the score at a particular stage in a game: With five minutes to play, the game was 7 to 0.

7.	a particular manner or style of playing a game: Her game of chess is improving.

8.	anything resembling a game, as in requiring skill, endurance, or adherence to rules: the game of diplomacy.

9.	a trick or strategy: to see through someone's game.

10.	fun; sport of any kind; joke: That's about enough of your games.

11.	wild animals, including birds and fishes, such as are hunted for food or taken for sport or profit.

12.	the flesh of such wild animals or other game, used as food: a dish of game.

13.	any object of pursuit, attack, abuse, etc.: The new boy at school seemed to be fair game for practical jokers.

14.	Informal. a business or profession: He's in the real-estate game.

15.	Archaic. fighting spirit; pluck.

–adjective

16.	pertaining to or composed of animals hunted or taken as game or to their flesh.

17.	having a fighting spirit; plucky.

18.

Informal. having the required spirit or will (often fol. by for or an infinitive): Who's game for a hike through the woods?

–verb (used without object)

19.	to play games of chance for stakes; gamble.

–verb (used with object)

20.	to squander in gaming (usually fol. by away).

—Idioms

21.	die game, a. to die after a brave struggle. b. to remain steadfast or in good spirits at the moment of defeat: He knew that as a candidate he didn't have a chance in the world, but he campaigned anyway and died game.

22.	make game of, to make fun of; ridicule: to make game of the weak and defenseless.

23.	play games, to act in an evasive, deceitful, manipulative, or trifling manner in dealing with others: Don't play games with me—I want to know if you love me or not!

24.	play the game, Informal. a. to act or play in accordance with the rules. b. to act honorably or justly: We naively assumed that our allies would continue to play the game.