Ply: meaning, definitions and examples
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ply
[ plaɪ ]
manipulate materials
To ply means to work diligently or steadily at a task. It is often used in the context of crafting or trade, where a person applies persistent effort to create or produce something. Additionally, the term can refer to offering something repeatedly, such as a service or an item. It's a versatile verb that encompasses the acts of working, providing, or using something skillfully.
Synonyms
apply, exercise, labor, utilize, work
Examples of usage
- She plied the needle through the fabric.
- The carpenter plied his trade with great skill.
- He plied her with questions about her trip.
material layers
As a noun, ply refers to a layer or thickness of a material, often used in textiles or wood. In textiles, it describes the number of strands twisted together, while in carpentry, it often relates to layers of wood adhered together. Plywood, for example, is made up of multiple plies. The term emphasizes not just the physical layers but also the structural integrity provided by the combination of these layers.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The table was constructed from three plies of laminated wood.
- She chose a fabric with a high ply count for durability.
- The plywood sheets each consist of several thin plies.
Translations
Translations of the word "ply" in other languages:
🇵🇹 jogar
- tocar
- laminar
🇮🇳 खेलना
- प्लाई
- परत
🇩🇪 spielen
- schichten
- verarbeiten
🇮🇩 bermain
- lapisan
- ply
🇺🇦 грати
- шар
- ламінувати
🇵🇱 grać
- warstwa
- składać
🇯🇵 プレイする
- 層
- プライ
🇫🇷 jouer
- couche
- stratifier
🇪🇸 jugar
- capa
- laminar
🇹🇷 oynamak
- katman
- tabaka
🇰🇷 놀다
- 층
- 플레이
🇸🇦 يلعب
- طبقة
- بلاي
🇨🇿 hrát
- vrstva
- překližka
🇸🇰 hrať
- vrstva
- preglejka
🇨🇳 玩
- 层
- 层压
🇸🇮 igrati
- plast
- plastičiti
🇮🇸 spila
- lög
- lag
🇰🇿 ойнау
- қабат
- қабаттау
🇬🇪 თამაშობი
- ფენა
- ფენა
🇦🇿 oynamaq
- təbəqə
- ply
🇲🇽 jugar
- capa
- estratificar
Etymology
The word 'ply' originates from the Old French word 'plier', which means to fold or bend. This term was derived from the Latin 'plicare', also meaning to fold, and it has retained these core meanings throughout its evolution into modern English. The transition from referring to physical bending to the more abstract notions of working diligently reflects the word's versatility. The verb form of 'ply' started to gain more common usage in English literature around the 15th century, connecting to trades and crafts, while the noun usage followed closely as industrial processes began to employ layered materials. Its presence in contemporary language reflects both its historical roots and its applications in various trades, emphasizing the interconnection between form and function.