ply
To bend, to flex; to be bent by something, to give way or yieldTo bend, to flex; to be bent by something, to give way or yield (to a force, etc.).
» He plied me with tequila all evening.
Он весь вечер усиленно угощал меня текилой.
Meaning
9 senses(intransitive)To bend, to flex; to be bent by something, to give way or yield (to a force, etc.).
сгиба́тьsgibátʹ
(transitive)To work at (something) diligently.
He plied his trade as carpenter for forty-three years.
усе́рдно рабо́татьusérdno rabótatʹ
use diligently
(transitive)To wield or use (a tool, a weapon, etc.) steadily or vigorously.
He plied his ax with bloody results.
wield vigorously
(transitive)To press upon; to urge persistently.
to ply someone with questions or solicitations
(transitive)To persist in offering something to, especially for the purpose of inducement or persuasion.
to ply someone with drink
по́тчеватьpótčevatʹ
(ambitransitive)To travel over (a route) regularly.
to ply the seven seas
The steamer plies between several ports on the coast.
курси́роватьkursírovatʹ
travel a route regularly
(obsolete, transitive)To bend; to fold; to mould; (figuratively) to adapt, to modify; to change (a person's) mind, to cause (a person) to submit.
biegen, falten
скру́чиватьskrúčivatʹ, сгиба́тьsgibátʹ
(intransitive, obsolete)To work diligently.
apply oneself diligently
(intransitive, obsolete)To manoeuvre a sailing vessel so that the direction of the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to work to windward, to beat, to tack.
Examples
8 sentencesHe plied me with tequila all evening.
ruОн весь вечер усиленно угощал меня текилой.
She plied her trade near the freeway on ramp.
He plied her with alcohol until she was unable to resist his advances.
Here plying levers, where the flooring shows / weak joists, we heave it over.
They plied me with questions.
ruОни забросали меня вопросами.
Translations
4 languagesBy meaning 4
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English plīen, pli, plie (“to bend, fold, mould, shape; to be flexible; to beFrom Middle English plīen, pli, plie (“to bend, fold, mould, shape; to be flexible; to be submissive, humble oneself; to compel someone to submit”), from Anglo-Norman plier, plaier, pleier, ploier, and Middle French plier, ployer (“to bend, fold; to be submissive; to compel someone to submit”) (modern French plier, ployer), from Old French ploiier, pleier (“to fold”), from Latin plicāre (“to fold”); see further at etymology 1. The word is cognate with Catalan plegar (“to bend, fold”), Italian piegare (“to bend, fold, fold up”), Old Occitan plegar, plejar, pleyar (“to fold”) (modern Occitan plegar), Spanish plegar (“to fold”).
From apply; compare Middle English plīen, pli, plie, pleie (“to place (something) around, on, or over, to cover; to apply, use; to strive”), short for aplīen, applīen (“to combine, join; to attach; to assemble; to use, be of use; to allot; to apply; to inflict; to go; to ply, steer; to comply, submit”), from Old French applier, aplier, aploier (“to bend; to apply”), from Latin applicāre, present active infinitive of applicō (“to apply; to attach, join; to add”), from ad- (“to, towards”) + plicō (“to bend, fold, roll up”); see further at etymology 1.
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Forms
plies, plying, plied, pliedSynonyms
4 synonymsWord family
16 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle