ply

[ plahy ]

/ plaɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ply ON THESAURUS.COM

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 importunately, 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.

Nearby words

plutus, pluvial, pluviometer, pluvious, pluviôse, ply, ply metal, plyer, plymouth, plymouth brethren, plymouth colony

Origin of ply

1300–50; Middle English plien, aphetic variant of aplien to apply

SYNONYMS FOR ply

2 follow, exercise.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ply ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ply·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for ply (2 of 2)

ply

[ plahy ]

/ plaɪ /

noun, plural plies.

a thickness or layer.

Automotive. a layer of reinforcing fabric for a tire.

a unit of yarn: single ply.

one of the sheets of veneer that are glued together to make plywood.

Informal. plywood.

bent, bias, or inclination.

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

1300–50; Middle English plien (v.) < Middle French plier to fold, bend, variant of ployer, Old French pleier < Latin plicāre to fold; see fold¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ply

OSI wanted her to ply the waitress with questions about drug sales.
Spies, Lies, and Rape in the Air Force: An Undercover Agent's Story|Jacob Siegel|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They are more likely to pick guys who ply their trade week in, week out at the highest levels.
The World Cup Ref Crisis|Joshua Robinson|June 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST
These ships went up through the Bering Sea this summer to ply their dangerous trade as usual.
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 55, November 25, 1897|Various
There are always sloops that ply betwixt the two places, said Harriet.
Peggy Owen Patriot|Lucy Foster Madison

But where, it may well be asked, are the hands to ply the mattock and pick?
A Little Tour In Ireland|S. Reynolds Hole
Accordingly, packet boats were hired to ply between Falmouth and the Groyne.
The History of the British Post Office|Joseph Clarence Hemmeon
They boarded the scow to ply the poles till the deep water was reached, then the oars.
Rolf In The Woods|Ernest Thompson Seton

British Dictionary definitions for ply (1 of 2)

ply

/ (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 persistentlyhe 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 diligentlyto 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

/ (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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012