Definition

A type of building material made from thin layers of wood that are glued together, often used for furniture and construction.

Example

The carpenter used plywood to build the shelves in the garage.

Conversation

Have you ever worked with plywood for your projects?

Yeah, I used it to build a shelf last summer.

That's cool! I heard plywood is really strong and versatile.

It definitely is, and it’s also pretty easy to work with.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Plywood is formed from "ply" (from Old English "pleggen", meaning to fold or twist) and "wood" (meaning the material from trees). The word "plywood" refers to wood that is made by gluing together multiple layers or sheets of wood, thus folding or layering them.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ply' as folding layers of wood together, which helps you remember that plywood is made from layers of wood glued together.

Visually Confused Words