1
number + plies
作名词表示一股、一层，如绳线或板材；复数常用 plies，也常出现在 two-ply、three-ply 这类复合词中。
The rope was made of six plies twisted together.
这根绳子由六股绞合而成。
股；股线
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
股；股线
one of the strands twisted together to make yarn, rope, or thread
The rope was made of six plies twisted together.
这根绳子由六股绞合而成。
常用于复合词，如 three-ply（三股的）。
一层材料。
A layer of material.
倾向；方向。
A bent; a direction.
股,纱线或绳索的股线
one of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or thread; often used in combination
与其他股绞合在一起构成绳索或纱线的一股。
A strand that, twisted together with other strands, makes up rope or yarn.
The rope is strong because each ply is tightly twisted with the others.
这根绳子很结实，因为每一股都与其他股紧紧地绞在一起。
When knitting a blanket, choose a yarn with at least four plies.
织毯子时，选择至少四股的毛线。
He examined the thread and saw that one ply had snapped, weakening the whole strand.
他检查了线，发现有一股断了，使整根线变得不结实。
作名词表示一股、一层，如绳线或板材；复数常用 plies，也常出现在 two-ply、three-ply 这类复合词中。
The rope was made of six plies twisted together.
这根绳子由六股绞合而成。
固定搭配，意为“从事（某职业或行业）”，常用完成时或带时间段的语境。
She has plied her trade as a potter for twenty years.
她从事陶艺这行已经二十年了。
用于船、公共汽车等，表示定期往返、行驶于某一路线。
This ferry plies between the two cities daily.
这艘渡轮每天往返于这两座城市之间。
Not this
He plied for a scholarship at the university.
Use this
He applied for a scholarship at the university.
“ply”作动词表示“使用、从事”等，没有“申请”的意思，不能替代“apply”。“apply for”才是“申请”的固定搭配；把“applied”误写成“plied”是漏掉前缀“ap-”的形近词错误。
Not this
This rope is three-plies.
Use this
This rope is three-ply.
“three-ply”是复合形容词，意为“三股的”，数字和“ply”之间用连字符，且“ply”用单数；“plies”是名词复数，不能当作形容词使用。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
三股毛线
She bought three-ply wool to knit the baby a blanket.
她买了三股毛线，要给宝宝织毯子。
从事本行；干老本行
She has been plying her trade as a lawyer for ten years.
她从事律师这一行已经有十年了。
不断给某人某物（尤指吃喝）
The hosts plied us with tea and cakes.
主人不停地给我们端茶和糕点。
（船、车等）定期往返于
Several ferries ply between the two islands every day.
每天有几班渡轮定期往返于这两个岛屿之间。
使劲划桨
They plied the oars against the strong current.
他们迎着强烈的水流使劲划桨。
（出租车等）候客；招揽生意
Taxis were plying for hire outside the railway station.
出租车在火车站外候客。
从事自己的职业；操持本行
The blacksmith was plying his trade in the old town square.
铁匠在老城广场上干着他的本行活计。
不断向某人提问；追问
The reporters plied the star with questions after the premiere.
首映式后，记者们对那位明星轮番提问。
（出租车等）候客，招揽生意
Only licensed cabs are allowed to ply for hire in the city centre.
只有持牌出租车才允许在市中心候客拉活儿。
Use ply naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
想到 plywood（胶合板）：木板一层层压合，每一层叫一个 ply。几股线绞成绳，一股也叫 ply，所以 ply 有“层、股”之意。
语域：neutral 常见场景：yarn and thread、rope and cord、textile manufacturing 表示纱线、绳索等物品的“股”时，ply 通常与数词连用（如 three-ply），属于中性偏技术性的用词，口语和书面语中都较常见；多用于产品规格或手工编织等语境。
这些词都与 ply /plaɪ/ 押韵，重读元音和之后都是 /aɪ/：fly, sly, spy, try, cry, apply。注意 play /pleɪ/ 拼写接近但元音不同，不要读成 /pleɪ/。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.