Plywood

/ˈplaɪˌwʊd/

Meaning & Definition

noun

Plywood is a type of manufactured wood panel made from thin sheets of wood (veneers) glued together in layers, with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another.

The carpenter preferred to use plywood for the furniture because it is both strong and lightweight.

Plywood can also refer to any panel or board made in a similar manner using other materials.

For the art project, she decided to paint on a sheet of plywood instead of canvas.

Plywood is often used in construction, furniture, and cabinetry.

The house was framed with plywood walls to provide better insulation.

Plywood is also commonly used in flooring, roofing, and wall sheathing.

They chose to install plywood flooring in their cabin for durability.

Plywood comes in various grades and types, depending on the intended use.

He selected marine-grade plywood for the boat's interior to withstand moisture.

Etymology

The word plywood is derived from 'ply', meaning layers or folds, combined with 'wood', indicating the material.

Common Phrases and Expressions

plywood structure

A building framework made using plywood for walls or floors.

marine plywood

Water-resistant plywood used in boat building.

Related Words

veneer

A thin layer of wood or other material used for surface finishing.

OSB

Oriented Strand Board, a type of engineered wood similar to plywood.

Slang Meanings

A cheap or low-quality approximation of wood products.

That construction site is just using plywood for everything; it's all temporary.