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REFERENCE

playoff

n.
US //ˈpɫeɪˌɔf// UK //plˈeɪɒf// play·off
  1. 1 promotion match (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Sport

    a game played to decide which team will move up to a higher league.

    a match or series of matches played between teams at the end of a season to determine which will be promoted to a higher division.

    Example

    The team won the playoff final at Wembley to reach the Premier League.

    Example

    After finishing third in the table, the club had to navigate a tense two-legged playoff to secure their spot in the top flight.

    Usage

    frequently used in the singular when referring to a specific match or final.

    Teacher's tip

    Commonly associated with English football (soccer) league structures.
    • promotion decider
  2. 2 tie-breaker (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    an extra game played to decide a winner when two teams have the same score.

    an additional contest played to resolve a deadlocked competition or a tie in standings.

    Example

    The two golfers had to play a three-hole playoff to decide the tournament winner.

    Example

    Since both players finished eighteen holes with identical scores, the tournament rules mandated a sudden-death playoff starting on the first tee.
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  1. 3 musical transition (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Theatre

    a short piece of music played while the actors move between scenes in a play.

    a brief musical passage played during a scene change or at the exit of a character, often based on a previous song.

    Example

    The orchestra played a lively playoff as the dancers left the stage.

    Example

    The composer used a brassy playoff to maintain the energy of the production while the stagehands executed a complex set change in total darkness.
Origin

Deverbal from play off; by surface analysis, play + -off.

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