plying
Twisting fibers together
Plying is the present participle of ply, which means to work steadily at a trade or skill, or to travel a route regularly.
A taxi driver plies the streets; a merchant plies her wares.
To ply someone with something is to keep offering it persistently: They plied us with food and drink.
The word suggests diligent, repeated action—whether applying pressure, offering goods, or navigating familiar routes.
Directing movement through space
- sailingWind-propelled water travel
- voyagingTraveling long distances
- traversingMoving across an area
- ferryingConveying across water
shuttling · cruising · journeying · crossing · commuting · coursing · routing · frequenting
Bending something over itself
- twistingRotating with distortion
- doublingMultiplying by two
- laminatingBonding protective plastic layers
- thicknessDepth of material
Persuading through gentle persistence
- urgingStrongly encouraging action
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- entreatingUrgently asking for favor
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
cajoling · wheedling · badgering · pressuring · soliciting · importuning · beseeching · prevailing
Skilled manual worker
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- tradespersonSkilled manual laborer
- skillAcquired ability through practice
- carpentryWood construction trade
blacksmithing · tailoring · woodworking · metalwork · leatherwork · apprentice · journeyman · livelihood
Something presented or given
- providingGiving or furnishing
- furnishingItems equipping a space
- temptingArousing desire or interest
- servingMeasured food portion
dispensing · presenting · lavishing · regaling · showering · treating · feeding · pouring
navigating
Directing movement through space
- sailingWind-propelled water travel
- voyagingTraveling long distances
- traversingMoving across an area
ferrying · shuttling · cruising · journeying · crossing · commuting · coursing · routing · frequenting · traveling
folding
Bending something over itself
- twistingRotating with distortion
- doublingMultiplying by two
- laminatingBonding protective plastic layers
thickness · strand · sheet · layer · fold · twist · rope · cord · twine · braiding
coaxing
Persuading through gentle persistence
- urgingStrongly encouraging action
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- entreatingUrgently asking for favor
imploring · cajoling · wheedling · badgering · pressuring · soliciting · importuning · beseeching · prevailing · convincing
craftsman
Skilled manual worker
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- tradespersonSkilled manual laborer
- skillAcquired ability through practice
carpentry · blacksmithing · tailoring · woodworking · metalwork · leatherwork · apprentice · journeyman · livelihood · occupation
offering
Something presented or given
- providingGiving or furnishing
- furnishingItems equipping a space
- temptingArousing desire or interest
serving · dispensing · presenting · lavishing · regaling · showering · treating · feeding · pouring · refreshing
- textile craftssewing, knitting, weaving, quilting, embroidery
- fiber craftsyarn, wool, cotton, silk, linen
- woolcraftwool fiber, wool yarn, raw wool, fleece, wool wash
- textilescotton, wool, silk, fabric, thread
- spinningspin, rotate, revolve, whirl, twirl
- textile makingspinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, carding
plyingabandoning
Leaving permanently behind
quitting · forsaking · deserting · neglecting · relinquishing