a person or thing that plays.

a person who takes part or is skilled in some game or sport.

a person who plays parts on the stage; an actor.

a performer on a musical instrument.

Informal . a participant, as in a conference or business deal.

a sound- or image-reproducing machine

a record player; a cassette player; a videodisc player.

a gambler.

Slang . a person engaged in illicit or illegal activity, esp. a pimp.

a mechanical device by which a musical instrument, as a player piano, is played automatically.

noun

fan , spectator , director , conductor

noun

amateur , athlete , champ , competitor , contestant , jock * , member , opponent , participant , pro , professional , rookie , sportsperson , superjock , sweat * , team player , actor , bit player , entertainer , extra , ham * , hambone , impersonator , lead , mime , mimic , performer , playactor , scene stealer , stand-in , star , thespian , trouper , understudy , walk-on , artist , instrumentalist , musician , music maker , rocker , soloist , virtuoso , gambler , gamester , actress , party , adversary , comedian , drone , idler , imitator , jock , tragedian