- 1[intransitive, transitive] (literary) (of ships, buses, etc.) to travel regularly along a particular route or between two particular places + adv./prep. Ferries ply across a narrow strait to the island. The train plies twice a day between Paris and Madrid. Buses ply regularly to and from these places. ply something canals plied by gondolas and steamboats ships plying the route between Tripoli and Malta
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- 2[transitive] ply something (formal) to use a tool, especially in a skillful way The tailor delicately plied his needle. Idioms
ply
verbNAmE//plaɪ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they ply he / she / it plies
past simple plied
-ing form plying
to do your work or business This is the restaurant where he plied his trade as a cook. Drug dealers openly plied their trade in front of children. Phrasal Verbsply with
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