Dictionary
ply
Pronunciation: (plī), [key]
—v., plied, ply•ing.
—
v.t.
1. to work with or at diligently; employ busily; use:
to ply the needle.
2. to carry on, practice, or pursue busily or steadily:
to ply a trade.
3. to treat with or apply to (something) repeatedly (often fol. by
with):
to ply a fire with fresh fuel.
4. to assail persistently:
to ply horses with a whip.
5. to supply with or offer something pressingly to:
to ply a person with drink.
6. to address (someone) persistently or importunately, as with questions, solicitations, etc.; importune.
7. to pass over or along (a river, stream, etc.) steadily or on a regular basis:
boats that ply the Mississippi.
—
v.i.
1. to run or travel regularly over a fixed course or between certain places, as a boat, bus, etc.
2. to perform one's work or office busily or steadily:
to ply with the oars; to ply at a trade. ply
Pronunciation: (plī), [key]
—n., pl. plies,
—v., plied, ply•ing.
—
n.
1. a thickness or layer.
2. Auto.a layer of reinforcing fabric for a tire.
3. a unit of yarn:
single ply.
4. one of the sheets of veneer that are glued together to make plywood.
5. Informal.plywood.
6. bent, bias, or inclination.
—
v.t.
Brit. Dial.to bend, fold, or mold.
—
v.i.
Obs.to bend, incline, or yield.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
