ply
1
[ plahy ]
/ plaɪ /
verb (used with object), plied, ply·ing.
verb (used without object), plied, ply·ing.
to run or travel regularly over a fixed course or between certain places, as a boat, bus, etc.
to perform one's work or office busily or steadily: to ply with the oars; to ply at a trade.
Origin of ply
1OTHER WORDS FROM ply
ply·ing·ly, adverbWords nearby ply
Definition for ply (2 of 2)
ply
2
[ plahy ]
/ plaɪ /
noun, plural plies.
verb (used with object), plied, ply·ing.
British Dialect.
to bend, fold, or mold.
verb (used without object), plied, ply·ing.
Obsolete.
to bend, incline, or yield.
Origin of ply
2
1300–50; Middle English
plien (v.) < Middle French
plier to fold, bend, variant of
ployer, Old French
pleier < Latin
plicāre to fold; see
fold1
Example sentences from the Web for ply
British Dictionary definitions for ply (1 of 2)
ply
1
/ (plaɪ) /
verb plies, plying or plied (mainly tr)
to carry on, pursue, or work at (a job, trade, etc)
to manipulate or wield (a tool)
to sell (goods, wares, etc), esp at a regular place
(usually foll by with)
to provide (with) or subject (to) repeatedly or persistently
he plied us with drink the whole evening; to ply a horse with a whip; he plied the speaker with questions
(intr)
to perform or work steadily or diligently
to ply with a spade
(also intr)
(esp of a ship) to travel regularly along (a route) or in (an area)
to ply between Dover and Calais; to ply the trade routes
Word Origin for ply
C14
plye, short for
aplye to
apply
British Dictionary definitions for ply (2 of 2)
ply
2
/ (plaɪ) /
noun plural plies
- a layer, fold, or thickness, as of cloth, wood, yarn, etc
- (in combination)four-ply
a thin sheet of wood glued to other similar sheets to form plywood
one of the strands twisted together to make rope, yarn, etc
verb (tr)
to twist together (two or more single strands) to make yarn
Word Origin for ply
C15: from Old French
pli fold, from
plier to fold, from Latin
plicāre