ply

ply
1 verb past tense and past participle plied
1 (intransitive always + adv/prep, transitive) literary if a vehicle or boat plies between two places or across a place it makes that journey regularly
(+ between/across etc): Small fishing boats plied to and fro across the harbor. | ply sth: a regular boat service that plies the lake
2 ply your trade literary to work at your job or business: Flower sellers were plying their trade in the marketplace.
3 (T) old use or literary to use or work skilfully with a tool
4 ply for hire BrE if a taxi driver plies for hire, they drive around or wait somewhere looking for passengers
ply sb with sth phrasal verb (T)
1 to keep giving someone large quantities of food and drink: They plied us with sandwiches and mugs of strong coffee.
2 ply sb with questions to keep asking someone questions
2 noun (U) two /three etc ply
a) used as a measurement of the thickness of thread, rope etc, according to the number of single threads it is made from
b) used as a measurement of the thickness of plywood according to the number of thin sheets of wood it is made from

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • ply — [plaɪ] verb plied PTandPP JOURNALISM 1. [transitive] to sell something: • 60 retailers were plying their products on the radio. 2. ply your trade to work at your job or business: • two outdoor …   Financial and business terms

  • Ply — Ply, n. [Cf. F. pli, fr. plier. See {Ply}, v.] 1. A fold; a plait; a turn or twist, as of a cord. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 2. Bent; turn; direction; bias. [1913 Webster] The late learners can not so well take the ply. Bacon. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ply — Ply, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plying}.] [OE. plien, F. plier to fold, to bend, fr. L. plicare; akin to Gr. ?, G. flechten. Cf. {Apply}, {Complex}, {Display}, {Duplicity}, {Employ}, {Exploit}, {Implicate}, {Plait}, {Pliant},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ply — Ⅰ. ply [1] ► NOUN (pl. plies) 1) a thickness or layer of a folded or laminated material. 2) each of a number of multiple layers or strands of which something is made. ORIGIN French pli fold , from Latin plicare to fold . Ⅱ. pl …   English terms dictionary

  • Ply — Ply, v. i. 1. To bend; to yield. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] It would rather burst atwo than plye. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] The willow plied, and gave way to the gust. L Estrange. [1913 Webster] 2. To act, go, or work diligently and steadily; especially …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ply — ply1 [plī] vt. plied, plying [ME plien < OFr plier < L plicare, to fold < IE base * plek , to entwine > FLAX] Now Rare to bend, twist, fold, or mold vi. Obs. to bend or submit n. pl. plies [MFr pli < the v.] 1 …   English World dictionary

  • ply|er — «PLY uhr», noun. = plier. (Cf. ↑plier) …   Useful english dictionary

  • ply — I verb busy oneself with, carry on, devote oneself to, do work with, employ, engage in, exercere, exercise, exploit, handle, make use of, manipulate, occupy oneself with, operate, persevere at, practice, pursue, put in practice, put into effect,… …   Law dictionary

  • ply — vb *handle, manipulate, wield, swing Analogous words: exercise, *practice, drill: operate, work, function (see ACT vb): manage, direct, control, *conduct …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • ply — [v] use, work at carry on, dispense, employ, exercise, exert, follow, function, handle, maneuver, manipulate, practice, pursue, put out, swing, throw, utilize, wield; concepts 100,225 Ant. be lazy, idle …   New thesaurus

  • ply — am·ply; ap·ply; crum·ply; dim·ply; du·ply; im·ply; mul·ti·ply·ing; pan·o·ply; pim·ply; ply·er; ply·gain; ply·mo·the·an; ply·mo·thi·an; ply; pop·ply; pur·ply; quad·ru·ply; quin·tu·ply; rip·ply; rum·ply; sim·ply; stip·ply; tip·ply; tri·ply;… …   English syllables

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