ply

Plural: plies, ply, plys

Noun

one of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or thread; often used in combination
- "three-ply cord"
- "four-ply yarn"
(usually in combinations) one of several layers of cloth or paper or wood as in plywood
A layer of material.
A strand that, twisted together with other strands, makes up rope or yarn.
Clipping of plywood.
In two-player sequential games, a "half-turn" or a move made by one of the players.
A condition, a state.
A bent; a direction.

Verb

Verb Forms: plied, plying, plies

To supply or offer repeatedly; to work diligently.
give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
apply oneself diligently
- "Ply one's trade"
travel a route regularly
- "Ships ply the waters near the coast"
join together as by twisting, weaving, or molding
- "ply fabric"
wield vigorously
- "ply an axe"
use diligently
- "ply your wits!"
To bend; to fold; to mould; (figuratively) to adapt, to modify; to change (a person's) mind, to cause (a person) to submit.
To bend, to flex; to be bent by something, to give way or yield (to a force, etc.).
To work at (something) diligently.
To wield or use (a tool, a weapon, etc.) steadily or vigorously.
To press upon; to urge persistently.
To persist in offering something to, especially for the purpose of inducement or persuasion.
To travel over (a route) regularly.
To work diligently.
To manoeuvre a sailing vessel so that the direction of the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to work to windward, to beat, to tack.

Examples

He plied his ax with bloody results.
He plied his trade as carpenter for forty-three years.
He proposed to build Deep Purple, a super-computer capable of 24-ply look-ahead for chess.
He would PLY the board for every possible hook, never missing an opportunity.
The steamer plies between several ports on the coast.
to ply someone with drink
to ply someone with questions or solicitations
to ply the seven seas
two-ply toilet paper

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English pleit, plit, plite (“a fold, pleat, wrinkle; braid, strand in a braided cord, ply”), from Anglo-Norman pli, plei, pleit, and Middle French pli, ploy, ply (“a fold, pleat; joint in armour; situation, state”) (modern French pli (“a fold, pleat”)), from plier, ployer (“to bend, fold”), from plicāre (“to bend, fold, roll up”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- (“to fold, plait, weave”).

Synonyms

cater, provide, run, supply

Scrabble Score: 8

ply: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
ply: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ply: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

ply: valid Words With Friends Word