noun a thickness or layer of material
verb to travel regularly over a route
In construction, 'ply' can refer to the layers of material used in building structures, such as plywood with multiple plies.
In fitness, 'ply' can refer to a type of exercise involving explosive movements, such as plyometric exercises.
In maritime terminology, 'ply' can refer to the number of layers in a boat's hull, such as a single-ply hull or a double-ply hull.
In aviation, 'ply' can refer to the number of layers in composite materials used in aircraft construction, such as a carbon fiber 2-ply laminate.
In textiles, 'ply' refers to the number of strands twisted together to form a yarn, such as 2-ply or 3-ply yarn.
In the context of writing, 'ply' can refer to the number of layers or thickness of a material, such as 'a ply of paper.' It can also mean to work diligently at a particular task, as in 'she plied her trade as a writer.'
Psychologists may use 'ply' to describe the act of engaging in a particular behavior or skill repetitively, such as 'he plied his trade as a therapist for many years.'
For carpenters, 'ply' can refer to the number of layers in plywood or the act of bending or shaping a material, as in 'he plied the wood to create a curved design.'
Sailors may use 'ply' to describe the act of navigating a ship along a particular route, as in 'they plied the waters of the Caribbean for weeks.'