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What is the difference between layer and ply?

layer | ply |

As nouns the difference between layer and ply

is that layer is a single thickness of some material covering a surface while ply is a layer of material.

As verbs the difference between layer and ply

is that layer is to cut or divide (something) into layers while ply is to bend; to fold.

layer

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A single thickness of some material covering a surface.
    • Wrap the loaf in two layers of aluminum foil before putting it in the oven.
    After the first coat of paint dried, he applied another layer .
  • # An item of clothing worn under or over another.
  • It's cold now but it will warm up this afternoon. Make sure you wear layers .
  • A (usually) horizontal deposit; a stratum.
    • I find seven-layer cake a bit too rich.
  • A person who lays things, such as tiles.
  • A mature female bird, insect, etc. that is able to lay eggs.
    • When dealing with an infestation of headlice, the first step is to eliminate the layers .
  • A hen kept to lay eggs.
  • A shoot of a plant, laid underground for growth.

    • Synonyms

    * (stratum) stratum

    Derived terms

    * boundary layer * ozone layer

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) to cut or divide (something) into layers
  • (ambitransitive) to arrange (something) in layers.
    • Layer the ribbons on top of one another to make an attractive pattern.

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * *

    ply

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (plies)
  • A layer of material.
  • A strand that, twisted together with other strands, makes up yarn or rope.
  • (colloquial) Plywood.
  • (artificial intelligence, game theory) In two-player sequential games, a "half-turn", or one move made by one of the players.
    • He proposed to build Deep Purple, a super-computer capable of 24-ply look-ahead for chess.
  • State, condition.
  • * 1749 , John Cleland, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure , Penguin 1985, p. 66:
    • You may be sure, in the ply I was now taking, I had no objection to the proposal, and was rather a-tiptoe for its accomplishment.
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) , see Etymololgy 1.

    Verb

  • to .
  • * L'Estrange
    • The willow plied , and gave way to the gust.
  • to .
    • Derived terms
    * plier (agent noun) * pliers

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl)

    Verb

  • To ly.
    • He plied his trade as carpenter for forty-three years.
  • * Waller
    • Their bloody task, unwearied, still they ply .
  • To work diligently.
  • * Milton
    • Ere half these authors be read (which will soon be with plying hard and daily).
  • * Addison
    • He was forced to ply in the streets as a porter.
  • To vigorously.
    • He plied his ax with bloody results.
  • To ly.
    • ply the seven seas
    A steamer plies between certain ports.
  • To in offering.
  • * 1929 , , Chapter VII, Section vi
    • Esther began to cry. But when the fire had been lit specially to warm her chilled limbs and Adela had plied her with hot negus she began to feel rather a heroine.
    She plied him with liquor.
  • To press upon; to urge importunately.
    • to ply one with questions, with solicitations, or with drink
  • * Shakespeare
    • He plies the duke at morning and at night.
  • To employ diligently; to use steadily.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Go ply thy needle; meddle not.
  • (nautical) To work to windward; to beat.