ply
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ply1 /plaɪ/ verb (plied, plying, plies) 1 ply your trade literaryWORK/DO WORK to work at your business, especially buying and selling things on the street 从事工作；〔尤指在街头〕经营生意 In some areas, drug dealers openly ply their trade on street corners. 某些地区，毒贩公然在街角进行交易。2 [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] writtenTTWTTCTRAVEL if a ship, bus etc plies between two places or across a place, it does that journey regularly 〔船、车等〕定期往返ply between/across etc Two ferries ply between Tripoli and Malta every day. 每天有两艘渡船往返于的黎波里和马耳他。3 ply for hire/trade British EnglishTTCWORK/DO WORK to try to get customers or passengers, in order to do business 招揽生意，揽客 Continental airlines ply for trade in the UK. 欧洲大陆的航空公司希望在英国开展业务。4. [transitive] old use or literaryUSE/CONSUME to use a tool skilfully 熟练使用〔工具〕5 ply somebody with something phrasal verb a) GIVEto keep giving someone large quantities of food or drink 不断地给〔某人大量食物和饮料〕 The local people plied me with beer, until I could barely move. 当地人一个劲地灌我啤酒，最后我几乎动弹不了了。b) ply somebody with questionsASK A QUESTION to keep asking someone questions 不断向某人提问→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
ply• He fell in love with and married a princess after plying her father, the sultan, with many valuable gifts.• Mandy had plied her with tender loving care until the tears had come.• But new measures have been taken, and sweeping machines constantly ply the main streets collecting rubbish.• Besides, they often have kids of their own who are plying the same runs on snowboards.• Shall we see commercial sailing vessels ply the seas again?• The steam vessels plying to the island are mentioned.• We had been plied with hospitality so great that no one could go away hungry.ply between/across etc• There are ferry boats plying between different points, several sandy beaches, lots of yachts and dinghies and windsurfing.ply2 noun (plural ply) [countable] 1 a unit for measuring the thickness of thread, rope, plywood etc, based on the number of threads or layers that it has 〔线、绳子等的〕股；〔夹板的〕层 a sweater in four-ply yarn 四股毛线织成的毛衣Examples from the Corpus
ply• It is effective whether you use delicate fine yarns or a simple four ply.• Today, it is more usual to replace the base with marine ply.• Economically, thinner ply is preferable, but needs strengthening to prevent curved steps.From Longman Business Dictionaryplyply /plaɪ/ verb (past tense and past participle plied) journalism1[transitive] to sell something60 retailers were plying their products on the radio.2ply your trade to work at your job or businesstwo outdoor barbers plying their trade on the beach3[intransitive, transitive] if a vehicle or boat plies between two places, it makes the journey regularlyply betweenferries plying between Dover and CalaisThe airline is not allowed to ply domestic routes. → ply somebody with something→ See Verb tableOrigin ply1 (1300-1400) apply ply2 (1500-1600) French pli, from Old French plier; → PLIERS Corpus especially work business, Business buying and your to at selling things
ply
ply1 /plaɪ/ 
verb (past tense and past participle plied, present participle plying, third person singular plies)
In some areas, drug dealers openly ply their trade on street corners.
2. [I, T always + adv/prep] written if a ship, bus etc plies between two places or across a place, it does that journey regularly
ply between/across etc
Two ferries ply between Tripoli and Malta every day.
3. ply for hire/trade British English to try to get customers or passengers, in order to do business:
Continental airlines ply for trade in the UK.
4. [transitive] old use literary to use a tool skilfully
ply somebody with something phrasal verb
1. to keep giving someone large quantities of food or drink:
The local people plied me with beer, until I could barely move.
2. ply somebody with questions to keep asking someone questions
ply2 noun (plural ply) [countable]a unit for measuring the thickness of thread, rope, plywood etc, based on the number of threads or layers that it has:
a sweater in four-ply yarn
| I |
verb (past tense and past participle plied, present participle plying, third person singular plies) Date: 1300-1400
Origin: apply
1. ply your trade literary to work at your business, especially buying and selling things on the street:Origin: apply
2. [I, T always + adv/prep] written if a ship, bus etc plies between two places or across a place, it does that journey regularly
ply between/across etc
3. ply for hire/trade British English to try to get customers or passengers, in order to do business:
4. [transitive] old use literary to use a tool skilfully
ply somebody with something phrasal verb
1. to keep giving someone large quantities of food or drink:
2. ply somebody with questions to keep asking someone questions
| II |
noun (plural ply) [countable]a unit for measuring the thickness of thread, rope, plywood etc, based on the number of threads or layers that it has: 
