1. (v. t.) To bend.

2. (v. t.) To lay on closely, or in folds; to work upon steadily, or with repeated acts; to press upon; to urge importunately; as, to ply one with questions, with solicitations, or with drink.

3. (v. t.) To employ diligently; to use steadily.

4. (v. t.) To practice or perform with diligence; to work at.

5. (v. i.) To bend; to yield.

6. (v. i.) To act, go, or work diligently and steadily; especially, to do something by repeated actions; to go back and forth; as, a steamer plies between certain ports.

7. (v. i.) To work to windward; to beat.

8. (n.) A fold; a plait; a turn or twist, as of a cord.

9. (v.) Bent; turn; direction; bias.

about ship apply pressure back and fill bear away bear off bear to starboard beat beat about beat to windward beset besiege blandish boat box off break bring about bring round bug buttonhole cajole canoe cant cant round carry sail cast cast about change course change the heading circumnavigate close-haul coast coat coating coax collop come about come in contact course cover covering crease creasing crimp crisp cross cruise cut deal disk dispense do do with dog-ear double double a point double over doubling dun duplicature employ enfold exercise exert exert pressure feel feel of fetch about feuille film finger flap flection flexure flick flounce flute foil fold fold over force upon frill function gather go about go by ship go on shipboard go over go to sea gybe handle heave round importune infold insist interfold jibe jibe all standing lamella lamina laminated glass laminated wood lap lap over lapel lappet leaf luff luff up make a passage make use of manage maneuver manipulate measure membrane miss stays motorboat nag nag at navigate operate overpass palm palpate pane panel pass over pass through patina patrol paw peel pellicle perambulate peregrinate pererrate pester pinch plague plait plank plat plate plating play pleat plica plicate plication plicature ply upon plywood poke at practice press press upon pressure prod push push upon put about put back put forth put out quill range range over rasher reconnoiter round a point row ruche ruching ruff ruffle run safety glass sail sail fine sail round sail the sea scour scour the country scout scull scum seafare sheer sheet shift skin slab slat slew slice steam steamboat sweep swerve swing swing round swing the stern table tablet tack take a voyage tap tease throw throw about thrust upon thumb touch touch the wind track transit travel over travel through traverse tuck turn turn back turn over twiddle twill urge urge upon use utilize veer veneer voyage wafer wear wear ship wheedle wield wind work work on yacht yaw