ply
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1ply
verb \ˈplī\pliedply·ing
Definition of PLY
transitive verb
1
a : to use or wield diligently <busily plying his pen> b : to practice or perform diligently <ply a trade>
2
: to keep furnishing or supplying something to <plied us with liquor>
3
a : to make a practice of rowing or sailing over or on <the boat plies the river> b : to go or travel regularly over, on, or through <jets plying the skies>
intransitive verb
1
: to apply oneself steadily
2
: to go or travel regularly
See Origin of PLY
Middle English plien, short for applien to apply
First Known Use: 14th century
2ply
noun plural plies
Definition of PLY
1
a : one of several layers (as of cloth) usually sewn or laminated together b : one of the strands in a yarn c : one of the veneer sheets forming plywood d : a layer of a paper or cardboard
2
: inclination, bias
Examples of PLY
- a single ply of fabric
- <since taking a ply to French burgundies, he's hardly even looked at anything else in the wine store>
Origin of PLY
3ply
First Known Use: 1532
Related to PLY
- Synonyms
- favor, nonobjectivity, one-sidedness, partiality, parti pris, partisanship, bias, prejudice, tendentiousness
- Antonyms
- impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, open-mindedness, unbiasedness
Other Paper Terms
3ply
transitive verbpliedply·ing
Definition of PLY
: to twist together <ply two single yarns>
Origin of PLY
Middle English plien to fold, from Anglo-French plier, pleier, from Latin plicare; akin to Old High German flehtan to braid, Latin plectere, Greek plekein
First Known Use: circa 1909
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