Ply (Verb)
Meaning 1
Give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests".
Classification
Verbs of eating and drinking.
Examples
- The nurse plied the patient with warm blankets and reassurance to ease their pain.
- My grandmother used to ply us with cookies every time we visited her.
- The volunteers plied the stranded travelers with hot meals and fresh water.
- During the arduous hike, we plied each other with words of encouragement.
- The helpful teacher plied the struggling student with helpful tips and guidance.
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Meaning 2
Wield vigorously; "ply an axe".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- With each swing of the axe, the lumberjack began to ply his trade with greater ease and precision.
- The carpenter's strong arms helped her ply the hammer with heavy blows.
- He stood at the anvil, ready to ply the hot iron into the shape he desired.
- The skilled blacksmith taught the young apprentice how to ply the heavy hammer safely.
- In his enthusiasm for chopping wood, the boy began to ply the axe a bit too aggressively.
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
Travel a route regularly; "Ships ply the waters near the coast".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- Buses ply this route every half hour, connecting the city to the suburbs.
- The daily ferry service continues to ply the waters between the islands.
- She plying her trade as a flight attendant on the busy route between New York and Los Angeles for over 15 years.
- Trucks daily ply the highway connecting the two major cities.
- For decades, fishermen have been known to ply the waters near the village in search of a steady catch.
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Meaning 4
Join together as by twisting, weaving, or molding; "ply fabric".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Rope makers carefully ply fibers of hemp and jute to create durable cables.
- In traditional textile practice, skilled artisans ply yarn into fine fabrics.
- Artisans carefully ply together natural fibers like wool and flax to craft sustainable clothing.
- The basket weaver learned to ply rattan strips into a sturdy but lightweight container.
- Strong sails require shipwrights to ply tightly woven canvas and cordage together for added durability.
Meaning 5
Apply oneself diligently; "Ply one's trade".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- Through years of dedicated practice, she learned to ply her craft with precision and skill.
- He returned to his hometown to ply his trade as a carpenter and help local builders with their projects.
- As a young apprentice, he was expected to ply his skills diligently under the guidance of his experienced mentor.
- The local baker has been plying her trade since dawn, preparing an assortment of freshly baked treats for the morning rush.
- The old fisherman had spent decades plying his trade in the open waters, learning the secrets and rhythms of the ocean.
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Meaning 6
Use diligently; "ply your wits!".
Classification
Verbs of eating and drinking.
Examples
- Ply your wits to come up with a solution for this complex problem as quickly as possible.
- Her parents encouraged her to ply her skills in math and science to pursue a promising career.
- In order to get ahead, one must ply their knowledge of business management to succeed in a competitive market.
- She was determined to ply her creativity to come up with innovative ideas for her fashion brand.
- The teacher urged the students to ply their skills in different languages to increase their job opportunities.