ply
noun
[ plʌɪ ]
• a thickness or layer of a folded or laminated material.
• "tiles that have a black PVC ply in the lamination"
• short for plywood.
• (in game theory) the number of levels at which branching occurs in a tree of possible outcomes, typically corresponding to the number of moves ahead (in chess strictly half-moves ahead) considered by a computer program.
Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘fold’): from French pli ‘fold’, from the verb plier, from Latin plicare ‘to fold’.
ply
verb
• work steadily with (a tool).
• "a tailor delicately plying his needle"
• (of a vessel or vehicle) travel regularly over a route, typically for commercial purposes.
• "ferries ply across a strait to the island"
Similar:
go regularly,
travel regularly,
make regular journeys,
travel,
go back and forth,
shuttle,
commute,
• provide someone with (food or drink) in a continuous or insistent way.
• "she plied me with tea and scones"
Origin:
late Middle English: shortening of apply.
