plywood

American  

[plahy-wood] / ˈplaɪˌwʊd /

noun

1. a material used for various building purposes, consisting usually of an odd number of layers of wood veneer glued over each other, such that the wood grain of each layer is perpendicular to the layers surrounding it.

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plywood British  

/ ˈplaɪˌwʊd /

noun

1. a structural board consisting of an odd number of thin layers of wood glued together under pressure, with the grain of one layer at right angles to the grain of the adjoining layer

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Etymology

Origin of plywood

First recorded in 1905–10; ply ² + wood ¹

Example Sentences

After Molina’s landlord installed a plywood base, Bolding started on the mural several days later.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Locals now rely on a makeshift raft made from plastic barrels and plywood to cross the river.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Their doors opened and out came customers and contractors, who went into the store and returned with plywood and sheet metal and seasonal plants.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2026

Owens and her family saved the house, wedging plywood underneath the doorways during the storm and mopping up water faster than it seeped inside.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

The hurricane battered the plywood boards screwed over the windows.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein