Meaning & use
two-ply
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Made of two layers or strands pressed or twisted together.
Grammar: Used before a noun: two-ply tissue, two-ply yarn. Not usually after a verb.
Patterns
- two-ply tissue
- two-ply yarn
- two-ply wood
I always buy two-ply toilet paper because it's softer.
This two-ply yarn is strong enough for knitting a sweater.
The plywood is two-ply, making it more durable than single-ply.
Common combinations
- two-ply toilet paper
- Two-ply toilet paper is more comfortable than single-ply.
- two-ply yarn
- She prefers two-ply yarn for delicate projects.
- two-ply tissue
- The tissues are two-ply, so they don't tear easily.
- two-ply wood
- The table is made of two-ply wood for extra strength.
Synonyms and how they differ
- double-layered
- More general; can describe anything with two layers, while 'two-ply' is specific to materials like paper or yarn.
- double-ply
- Less common but means the same; 'two-ply' is the standard term.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: two-ply or plywood?
two-ply vs plywood
A building material made of thin layers of wood glued together; 'two-ply' describes the number of layers, but 'plywood' is the material itself.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'two-ply' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 correctly uses 'two-ply' as an adjective describing toilet paper. Option 2 misuses it for a road. Option 3 uses it as a noun incorrectly. Option 4 uses it as a verb, which is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “two-ply”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.