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ply
ply1 / plī/ • n. (pl. plies) 1. a thickness or layer of a folded or laminated material. ∎ [usu. in comb.] a strand of yarn or rope: [as adj.] four-ply yarn. ∎ the number of layers or strands of which something is made: the yarn can be any ply from two to eight. ∎ [usu. in comb.] a reinforcing layer of fabric in a tire: [as adj.] a six-ply whitewall tire. 2. short for plywood. 3. (in game theory) the number of levels at which branching occurs in a tree of possible outcomes, typically corresponding to the number of moves ahead (in chess strictly half-moves ahead) considered by a computer program. ∎ a half-move (i.e., one player's move) in computer chess. ply2 • v. (plies, plied) [tr.] 1. work with (a tool, esp. one requiring steady, rhythmic movements): a tailor delicately plying his needle. ∎ work steadily at (one's business or trade); conduct: he plied a profitable export trade. 2. [intr.] (of a vessel or vehicle) travel regularly over a route, typically for commercial purposes: ferries ply across a strait to the island. ∎ [tr.] travel over (a route) in this way: the motion of the big tug as it plied the Jersey coastline. 3. (ply someone with) provide someone with (food or drink) in a continuous or insistent way: a flight attendant who plied them with soft drinks. ∎ direct (numerous questions) at someone: the presiding judge plied him with a series of absurd questions. |
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Cite this article
"ply." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ply." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ply.html "ply." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ply.html |
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ply
ply1 (Sc.) plight, condition XV; fold, layer XVI (in earliest use Sc.); bend, turn, twist XVI (fig. from XVII). — (O)F. pli, f. plier, †pleier (
whence ply vb. bend, lit. and fig. XIV) :— L. plicāre; cf. FOLD2. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "ply." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ply." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ply.html T. F. HOAD. "ply." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ply.html |
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ply
ply v. -ies, -ied
1. (of a vessel or vehicle) travel regularly over a route, typically for commercial purposes: ferries ply across a strait to the island. 2. travel over (a route) in this way. |
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Cite this article
"ply." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ply." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ply.html "ply." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ply.html |
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ply
ply2 apply, employ XIV; work away at; solicit earnestly XVI; (naut.) XVI. Aphetic of APPLY.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "ply." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ply." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ply1.html T. F. HOAD. "ply." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ply1.html |
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ply
ply •ally, Altai, apply, assai, awry, ay, aye, Baha'i, belie, bi, Bligh, buy, by, bye, bye-bye, chi, Chiangmai, Ciskei, comply, cry, Cy, Dai, defy, deny, Di, die, do-or-die, dry, Dubai, dye, espy, eye, fie, fly, forbye, fry, Frye, goodbye (US goodby), guy, hereby, hi, hie, high, I, imply, I-spy, July, kai, lie, lye, Mackay, misapply, my, nearby, nigh, Nye, outfly, passer-by, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, Qinghai, rai, rely, rocaille, rye, scry, serai, shanghai, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sky-high, sly, spin-dry, spry, spy, sty, Sukhotai, supply, Tai, Thai, thereby, thigh, thy, tie, Transkei, try, tumble-dry, underlie, Versailles, Vi, vie, whereby, why, wry, Wye, xi, Xingtai, Yantai
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Cite this article
"ply." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ply." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ply.html "ply." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ply.html |
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