PLY (plied)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: plied   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ply mean? 

• PLY (noun)
  The noun PLY has 2 senses:

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

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

  Familiarity information: PLY used as a noun is rare.

• PLY (verb)
  The verb PLY has 6 senses:

1. give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance

2. apply oneself diligently

3. travel a route regularly

4. join together as by twisting, weaving, or molding

5. wield vigorously

6. use diligently

  Familiarity information: PLY used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PLY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

four-ply yarn

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)

Sense 2

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)

• PLY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they ply    ... he / she / it plies   
Past simple: plied   
Past participle: plied   
-ing form: plying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

cater; ply; provide; supply

Context example:

The hostess provided lunch for all the guests

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"):

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

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)

staff (provide with staff)

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)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Apply oneself diligently

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

Ply one's trade

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Travel a route regularly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

ply; run

Context example:

Ships ply the waters near the coast

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 4

Meaning:

Join together as by twisting, weaving, or molding

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

ply fabric

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

join (cause to become joined or linked)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Wield vigorously

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

ply an axe

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

handle; manage; wield (handle effectively)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Use diligently

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Context example:

ply your wits!

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

 Context examples 

They composed one of the boats’ crews, and their task was to ply between the schooner and the shore, carrying a single cask each trip.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I was able to fit him up as a smith, on condition that he should ply his trade at the village of Friar’s Oak.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no less than 26s. 4d.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I found that Mrs. Heep gradually got nearer to me, and that Uriah gradually got opposite to me, and that they respectfully plied me with the choicest of the eatables on the table.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But “no, he was a short-necked, apoplectic sort of fellow, and, plied well with good things, would soon pop off.”

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“And I can see men-at-arms in yonder boats which ply betwixt the vessel and the shore. But methinks that we are very welcome here, for already they come forth to meet us.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I well remember how he plied me with questions as to the amount and the time that was needed for its effect, but I little dreamed that he could have a personal reason for asking.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As soon as it was midnight, there came in two little naked dwarfs; and they sat themselves upon the shoemaker’s bench, took up all the work that was cut out, and began to ply with their little fingers, stitching and rapping and tapping away at such a rate, that the shoemaker was all wonder, and could not take his eyes off them.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

A closet was filled with wine; the plate was of silver, the napery elegant; a good picture hung upon the walls, a gift (as Utterson supposed) from Henry Jekyll, who was much of a connoisseur; and the carpets were of many plies and agreeable in colour.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Your garb and manner were restricted by rule; your air was often diffident, and altogether that of one refined by nature, but absolutely unused to society, and a good deal afraid of making herself disadvantageously conspicuous by some solecism or blunder; yet when addressed, you lifted a keen, a daring, and a glowing eye to your interlocutor's face: there was penetration and power in each glance you gave; when plied by close questions, you found ready and round answers.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)