playmate
PLAY-mayt
Playmate (noun) means a friend, especially a child's, who joins in play. Example: “The twins have been playmates since nursery.”
noun
1
A friend, especially a child's, who joins in play.
"An indulgent playmate, Grannie would lay aside the long scratchy-looking letter she was writing (heavily crossed ‘to save notepaper’) and enter into the delightful pastime of ‘a chicken from Mr Whiteley's’."
— Agatha Christie (1977)
"The twins have been playmates since nursery."
2
Informal: a romantic or sexual partner.
"He referred to his new girlfriend as his playmate."
How to use playmate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone you play with — usually a child's friend, though it can be used more suggestively for adults.
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Word forms
- Plural
- playmates
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The twins have been _____ since nursery.
Etymology
From play + mate; an older equivalent was playfeer.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for playmate
See all rhymes for playmate →Frequently asked questions
What does “playmate” mean?
The word “playmate” means a friend, especially a child's, who joins in play. In plain terms, someone you play with — usually a child's friend, though it can be used more suggestively for adults.
How do you pronounce “playmate”?
“Playmate” is pronounced PLAY-mayt (/ˈpleɪˌmeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “playmate” in a sentence?
Here is “playmate” used in a sentence: “The twins have been playmates since nursery.”
What part of speech is “playmate”?
“Playmate” is a noun.
How many meanings does “playmate” have?
“Playmate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a friend, especially a child's, who joins in play.
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