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View synonyms for ply
ply
1[ plahy ]
verb (used with object)
, plied, ply·ing.
- to work with or at diligently; employ busily; use:
to ply the needle.
- to carry on, practice, or pursue busily or steadily:
to ply a trade.
- to treat with or apply to (something) repeatedly (often followed by with ):
to ply a fire with fresh fuel.
- to assail persistently:
to ply horses with a whip.
- to supply with or offer something pressingly to:
to ply a person with drink.
- to address (someone) persistently or urgently, as with questions, solicitations, etc.; importune.
- to pass over or along (a river, stream, etc.) steadily or on a regular basis:
boats that ply the Mississippi.
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.
ply
2[ plahy ]
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.
ply
1/ plaɪ /
noun
- 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
- to twist together (two or more single strands) to make yarn
ply
2/ plaɪ /
verb
- 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 the speaker with questions
he plied us with drink the whole evening
to ply a horse with a whip
- 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
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Other Words From
- plying·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of ply1
C15: from Old French pli fold, from plier to fold, from Latin plicāre
Origin of ply2
C14 plye, short for aplye to apply
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