plywood

Manufactured panel made up of three or more thin plies (layers) of wood. Each ply is laid down with its grain running perpendicular to the one before it. Like other glued-wood products, plywood provides a strong, inexpensive alternative to solid wood. It is widely used both in cabinetmaking (for chests, dressers, wardrobes, and tables) and in house construction (for walls, ceilings, subfloors, doors, and in forms for casting concrete).

Find more information on plywood. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on plywood.