ply vs steer

ply

verb
  • To press upon; to urge persistently. 

  • To work at (something) diligently. 

  • To persist in offering something to, especially for the purpose of inducement or persuasion. 

  • To travel over (a route) regularly. 

  • To bend, to flex; to be bent by something, to give way or yield (to a force, etc.). 

  • To wield or use (a tool, a weapon, etc.) steadily or vigorously. 

noun
  • In two-player sequential games, a "half-turn" or a move made by one of the players. 

  • A layer of material. 

  • A bent; a direction. 

  • A strand that, twisted together with other strands, makes up rope or yarn. 

  • A condition, a state. 

steer

verb
  • To conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action. 

  • To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm. 

  • To direct a group of animals. 

  • To direct a conversation. 

  • To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel). 

  • To castrate (a male calf). 

  • To direct or send an object into a specific place 

  • To maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action. 

noun
  • A suggestion about a course of action. 

  • The castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production. 

How often have the words ply and steer occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )