Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

plymore about ply

ply

 

  5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ply  \Ply\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Plied};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Plying}.]  [OE.  plien,  F.  plier  to  fold,  to  bend,  fr  L. 
  plicare  akin  to  Gr  ?,  G.  flechten  Cf  {Apply},  {Complex}, 
  {Display},  {Duplicity},  {Employ},  {Exploit},  {Implicate}, 
  {Plait},  {Pliant},  {Flax}.] 
  1.  To  bend.  [Obs.] 
 
  As  men  may  warm  wax  with  handes  plie.  --Chaucer. 
 
  2.  To  lay  on  closely,  or  in  folds;  to  work  upon  steadily,  or 
  with  repeated  acts  to  press  upon  to  urge  importunately; 
  as  to  ply  one  with  questions,  with  solicitations,  or  with 
  drink. 
 
  And  plies  him  with  redoubled  strokes  --Dryden. 
 
  He  plies  the  duke  at  morning  and  at  night.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  To  employ  diligently;  to  use  steadily. 
 
  Go  ply  thy  needle;  meddle  not  --Shak. 
 
  4.  To  practice  or  perform  with  diligence;  to  work  at 
 
  Their  bloody  task,  unwearied,  still  they  ply. 
  --Waller. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ply  \Ply\,  n.  [Cf.  F.  pli,  fr  plier.  See  {Ply},  v.] 
  1.  A  fold;  a  plait;  a  turn  or  twist,  as  of  a  cord. 
  --Arbuthnot. 
 
  2.  Bent;  turn;  direction;  bias. 
 
  The  late  learners  can  not  so  well  take  the  ply. 
  --Bacon. 
 
  Boswell,  and  others  of  Goldsmith's  contemporaries,  . 
  .  .  did  not  understand  the  secret  plies  of  his 
  character.  --W.  Irving. 
 
  The  czar's  mind  had  taken  a  strange  ply,  which  it 
  retained  to  the  last  --Macaulay. 
 
  Note:  Ply  is  used  in  composition  to  designate  folds,  or  the 
  number  of  webs  interwoven;  as  a  three-ply  carpet. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ply  \Ply\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  bend;  to  yield.  [Obs.] 
 
  It  would  rather  burst  atwo  than  plye.  --Chaucer. 
 
  The  willow  plied,  and  gave  way  to  the  gust. 
  --L'Estrange. 
 
  2.  To  act  go  or  work  diligently  and  steadily;  especially, 
  to  do  something  by  repeated  actions;  to  go  back  and  forth; 
  as  a  steamer  plies  between  certain  ports. 
 
  Ere  half  these  authors  be  read  (which  will  soon  be 
  with  plying  hard  and  daily).  --Milton. 
 
  He  was  forced  to  ply  in  the  streets  as  a  porter. 
  --Addison. 
 
  The  heavy  hammers  and  mallets  plied.  --Longfellow. 
 
  3.  (Naut.)  To  work  to  windward;  to  beat 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ply 
  n  1:  one  of  the  strands  twisted  together  to  make  yarn  or  rope  or 
  thread;  often  used  in  combination:  "three-ply  cord"  or 
  "four-ply  yarn" 
  2:  usually  used  in  combination;  one  of  several  layers  of  cloth 
  or  paper  or  wood  as  in  plywood 
  v  1:  provide  what  is  desired  or  needed,  esp.  support,  food  or 
  sustenance;  "The  hostess  provided  lunch  for  all  the 
  guests"  [syn:  {provide},  {supply},  {cater}] 
  2:  apply  oneself  diligently;  "Ply  one's  trade" 
  3:  travel  a  route  regularly;  "Ships  ply  the  waters  near  the 
  coast"  [syn:  {run}] 
  4:  wield  vigorously;  "ply  an  axe" 
  5:  use  diligently;  "ply  your  wits!" 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  ply 
 
    1.  Of  a  {node}  in  a  {tree},  the  number  of 
  {branches}  between  that  node  and  the  {root}. 
 
  2.  Of  a  tree,  the  maximum  ply  of  any  of  its  nodes. 
 
  (1998-12-29)




more about ply