Topic: WATER
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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Origin: | apply |
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ply1
past tense and past participle plied, present participle plying, third person singular plies
past tense and past participle plied, present participle plying, third person singular plies1 to work at your business, especially buying and selling things on the street : In some areas, drug dealers openly ply their trade on street corners.
ply your trade
literaryIn some areas, drug dealers openly ply their trade on street corners.2 [intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition] writtenTTW if a ship, bus etc plies between two places or across a place, it does that journey regularly
3 to try and get customers or passengers, in order to do business : Continental airlines ply for trade in the UK.
ply for hire/trade
British EnglishContinental airlines ply for trade in the UK.4 [transitive] old use or literary to use a tool skilfully
ply somebody with something
phrasal verb1 to keep giving someone large quantities of food or drink : The local people plied me with beer, until I could barely move.
The local people plied me with beer, until I could barely move.
