Is playful a noun or verb?

"Playful" is primarily an adjective. It describes a noun, indicating a characteristic of something or someone.

For example:

* Playful children (adjective describing the noun "children")

* A playful puppy (adjective describing the noun "puppy")

* A playful game (adjective describing the noun "game")

While "playful" can sometimes be used as a noun, it's much less common. This usage typically refers to a playful action or behavior, often in the context of a specific activity.

For example:

* "There was a lot of playful between the two teams."

* "The children engaged in playful with their toys."

Even in these cases, "playful" is essentially functioning as a noun describing a specific type of action, rather than being a standalone noun with its own meaning.