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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
ply
    n 1: one of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or
         thread; often used in combination; "three-ply cord"; "four-
         ply yarn"
    2: (usually in combinations) one of several layers of cloth or
       paper or wood as in plywood
    v 1: give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or
         sustenance; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests"
         [syn: provide, supply, ply, cater]
    2: apply oneself diligently; "Ply one's trade"
    3: travel a route regularly; "Ships ply the waters near the
       coast" [syn: ply, run]
    4: join together as by twisting, weaving, or molding; "ply
       fabric"
    5: wield vigorously; "ply an axe"
    6: use diligently; "ply your wits!"

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Ply \Ply\, v. i.
   1. To bend; to yield. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            It would rather burst atwo than plye. --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            The willow plied, and gave way to the gust.
                                                  --L'Estrange.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Ere half these authors be read (which will soon be
            with plying hard and daily).          --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            He was forced to ply in the streets as a porter.
                                                  --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

            The heavy hammers and mallets plied.  --Longfellow.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Naut.) To work to windward; to beat.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.]
      [1913 Webster]

            As men may warm wax with handes plie. --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            And plies him with redoubled strokes  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

            He plies the duke at morning and at night. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To employ diligently; to use steadily.
      [1913 Webster]

            Go ply thy needle; meddle not.        --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To practice or perform with diligence; to work at.
      [1913 Webster]

            Their bloody task, unwearied, still they ply.
                                                  --Waller.
      [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Bent; turn; direction; bias.
      [1913 Webster]

            The late learners can not so well take the ply.
                                                  --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

            Boswell, and others of Goldsmith's contemporaries, .
            . . did not understand the secret plies of his
            character.                            --W. Irving.
      [1913 Webster]

            The czar's mind had taken a strange ply, which it
            retained to the last.                 --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Ply is used in composition to designate folds, or the
         number of webs interwoven; as, a three-ply carpet.
         [1913 Webster]

5. The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018)
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)


Thesaurus Results for Ply:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
about ship, apply pressure, back and fill, bear away, bear off, bear to starboard, beat, beat about, beat to windward, beset, besiege, blandish, boat, box off, break, bring about, bring round, bug, buttonhole, cajole, canoe, cant, cant round, carry sail, cast, cast about, change course, change the heading, circumnavigate, close-haul, coast, coat, coating, coax, collop, come about, come in contact, course, cover, covering, crease, creasing, crimp, crisp, cross, cruise, cut, deal, disk, dispense, do, do with, dog-ear, double, double a point, double over, doubling, dun, duplicature, employ, enfold, exercise, exert, exert pressure, feel, feel of, fetch about, feuille, film, finger, flap, flection, flexure, flick, flounce, flute, foil, fold, fold over, force upon, frill, function, gather, go about, go by ship, go on shipboard, go over, go to sea, gybe, handle, heave round, importune, infold, insist, interfold, jibe, jibe all standing, lamella, lamina, laminated glass, laminated wood, lap, lap over, lapel, lappet, leaf, luff, luff up, make a passage, make use of, manage, maneuver, manipulate, measure, membrane, miss stays, motorboat, nag, nag at, navigate, operate, overpass, palm, palpate, pane, panel, pass over, pass through, patina, patrol, paw, peel, pellicle, perambulate, peregrinate, pererrate, pester, pinch, plague, plait, plank, plat, plate, plating, play, pleat, plica, plicate, plication, plicature, ply upon, plywood, poke at, practice, press, press upon, pressure, prod, push, push upon, put about, put back, put forth, put out, quill, range, range over, rasher, reconnoiter, round a point, row, ruche, ruching, ruff, ruffle, run, safety glass, sail, sail fine, sail round, sail the sea, scour, scour the country, scout, scull, scum, seafare, sheer, sheet, shift, skin, slab, slat, slew, slice, steam, steamboat, sweep, swerve, swing, swing round, swing the stern, table, tablet, tack, take a voyage, tap, tease, throw, throw about, thrust upon, thumb, touch, touch the wind, track, transit, travel over, travel through, traverse, tuck, turn, turn back, turn over, twiddle, twill, urge, urge upon, use, utilize, veer, veneer, voyage, wafer, wear, wear ship, wheedle, wield, wind, work, work on, yacht, yaw
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