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This article is from the Magic: The Gathering Rules FAQ, by Patrik Linell (pls@claymore.nu) with numerous contributions by others.

20 What does "play" mean? (Magic: The Gathering Rules)

Three things, in general. To "play" a land means putting it into
play. To "play" a spell or ability means announcing it, choosing targets
and so on. "In play" is the zone where all the action happens, where the
permanents are, creatures attack and so on (other zones are for example
graveyard and library).
An ability that triggers when a spell is "played" will do so as soon as
that spell is announced, and its effect will occur before the triggering
spell can resolve. Abilities that used to refer to something being
"successfully cast", which has no meaning under 6th Edition rules, have all
had errata to use the term "played".

 

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