plywood

noun

ply·​wood ˈplī-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce plywood (audio)
: a structural material consisting of sheets of wood glued or cemented together with the grains of adjacent layers arranged at right angles or at a wide angle

Examples of plywood in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Storefront display windows of luxury shops in Rome, Milan and Florence were boarded up with plywood, with many businesses closing early in anticipation of violence. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Layers of pencil have been transformed into plywood in curving and minimalist forms. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Strandhill on the Sligo coast was our Palookaville, and our business today was ceremonial—the cremains of Chuck (Boyo) Murphy were in Tall Paul’s carrier, the little plywood box triple-bagged and Gorilla-taped for safety. — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026 Sure enough, Blauvelt's body was found in the basement of the Simpsonville house in a box covered in plywood, setting off a search for her killer that would last years. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plywood

Word History

Etymology

ply entry 2 + wood entry 1

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plywood was in 1907

Rhymes for plywood

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Browse Nearby Words

ply with
plywood
ply yarn
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Cite this Entry

“Plywood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plywood. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

plywood

noun
ply·​wood ˈplī-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce plywood (audio)
: a strong board made by gluing thin sheets of wood together under heat and pressure

More from Merriam-Webster on plywood

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plywood

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