ply

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: providesupplycaterrun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. one of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or thread; often used in combination“three-ply cord”“four-ply yarn”
  2. (usually in combinations) one of several layers of cloth or paper or wood as in plywood

Verb (6)

  1. give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance“The hostess provided lunch for all the guests”Synonyms: providesupplycater
  2. apply oneself diligently“Ply one's trade”
  3. travel a route regularly“Ships ply the waters near the coast”Synonyms: run
  4. join together as by twisting, weaving, or molding“ply fabric”
  5. wield vigorously“ply an axe”
  6. use diligently“ply your wits!”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Ply \Ply\, v. i.

1.To bend; to yield. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

It would rather burst atwo than plye.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]
The willow plied, and gave way to the gust.— L'Estrange.[1913 Webster]

2.To act, go, or work diligently and steadily; especially, to do something by repeated actions; to go back and forth; as, a steamer plies between certain ports. [1913 Webster]

Ere half these authors be read (which will soon be with plying hard and daily).— Milton.[1913 Webster]
He was forced to ply in the streets as a porter.— Addison.[1913 Webster]
The heavy hammers and mallets plied.— Longfellow.[1913 Webster]

3.(Naut.) To work to windward; to beat. [1913 Webster]

Ply \Ply\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plied; p. pr. & vb. n. Plying.] [OE. plien, F. plier to fold, to bend, fr. L. plicare; akin to Gr. ?, G. flechten. Cf. Apply, Complex, Display, Duplicity, Employ, Exploit, Implicate, Plait, Pliant, Flax.]

1.To bend. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

As men may warm wax with handes plie.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

2.To lay on closely, or in folds; to work upon steadily, or with repeated acts; to press upon; to urge importunately; as, to ply one with questions, with solicitations, or with drink. [1913 Webster]

And plies him with redoubled strokes— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
He plies the duke at morning and at night.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.To employ diligently; to use steadily. [1913 Webster]

Go ply thy needle; meddle not.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.To practice or perform with diligence; to work at. [1913 Webster]

Their bloody task, unwearied, still they ply.— Waller.[1913 Webster]
Ply \Ply\, n. [Cf. F. pli, fr. plier. See Ply, v.]

1.A fold; a plait; a turn or twist, as of a cord. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]

2.Bent; turn; direction; bias. [1913 Webster]

The late learners can not so well take the ply.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]
Boswell, and others of Goldsmith's contemporaries, . . . did not understand the secret plies of his character.— W. Irving.[1913 Webster]
The czar's mind had taken a strange ply, which it retained to the last.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]

Note: Ply is used in composition to designate folds, or the number of webs interwoven; as, a three-ply carpet. [1913 Webster]

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

ply

<mathematics, data> 1. Of a node in a tree, the number of branches between that node and the root.

2.Of a tree, the maximum ply of any of its nodes.

(1998-12-29)

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