Library / English Dictionary

PLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: plied   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

(usually in combinations) one of several layers of cloth or paper or wood as in plywood

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ply" is a kind of...):

bed; layer (single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance)

Domain usage:

combining form (a bound form used only in compounds)

Sense 2

Meaning:

One of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or thread; often used in combination

Example:

four-ply yarn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ply" is a kind of...):

strand (line consisting of a complex of fibers or filaments that are twisted together to form a thread or a rope or a cable)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Use diligently

Example:

ply your wits!

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "ply" is one way to...):

apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance

Example:

The hostess provided lunch for all the guests

Synonyms:

cater; ply; provide; supply

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "ply" is one way to...):

give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ply"):

gutter (provide with gutters)

fix up (find (something or someone) for)

nourish; nurture; sustain (provide with nourishment)

accommodate (provide with something desired or needed)

shower (provide abundantly with)

horse (provide with a horse or horses)

conform to; fill; fit; fulfil; fulfill; meet; satisfy (fill, satisfy or meet a want or need or condtion ro restriction)

underlay (provide with a base, support, lining, or backing)

gratify; indulge; pander (yield (to); give satisfaction to)

feed (provide as food)

power (supply the force or power for the functioning of)

help; serve (help to some food; help with food or drink)

pander; pimp; procure (arrange for sexual partners for others)

cater (supply food ready to eat; for parties and banquets)

dish; dish out; dish up; serve; serve up (provide (usually but not necessarily food))

feed (serve as food for; be the food for)

feed; give (give food to)

board (provide food and lodging (for))

regale; treat (provide with choice or abundant food or drink)

drench (force to drink)

staff (provide with staff)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Wield vigorously

Example:

ply an axe

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "ply" is one way to...):

handle; manage; wield (handle effectively)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Join together as by twisting, weaving, or molding

Example:

ply fabric

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "ply" is one way to...):

join (cause to become joined or linked)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Travel a route regularly

Example:

Ships ply the waters near the coast

Synonyms:

ply; run

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "ply" is one way to...):

jaunt; travel; trip (make a trip for pleasure)

Verb group:

black market; run (deal in illegally, such as arms or liquor)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

plier (someone who plies a trade)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Apply oneself diligently

Example:

Ply one's trade

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "ply" is one way to...):

do; perform (get (something) done)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

plier; plyer (someone who plies a trade)

Credits

 Context examples: 

After a good day’s killing I have seen our decks covered with hides and bodies, slippery with fat and blood, the scuppers running red; masts, ropes, and rails spattered with the sanguinary colour; and the men, like butchers plying their trade, naked and red of arm and hand, hard at work with ripping and flensing-knives, removing the skins from the pretty sea-creatures they had killed.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Gradually, however, as his neighbours plied him with drink, his shoulders grew squarer, his back stiffened, his eyes brightened, and he looked about him, with an air of surprise at first, as if he had no clear recollection of how he came there, and afterwards with an expression of deepening interest, as he listened, with his ear scooped up in his hand, to the conversation around him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had arrived early in the day, and we had still three or four hours before dinner; but she sat there, plying her knitting-needles as monotonously as an hour-glass might have poured out its sands.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Arrived at Mr. Wickfield's house, I found, in the little lower room on the ground floor, where Uriah Heep had been of old accustomed to sit, Mr. Micawber plying his pen with great assiduity.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)