lace
Americannoun
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a netlike ornamental fabric made of threads by hand or machine.
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a cord or string for holding or drawing together, as when passed through holes in opposite edges.
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ornamental cord or braid, especially of gold or silver, used to decorate uniforms, hats, etc.
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a small amount of alcoholic liquor or other substance added to food or drink.
verb (used with object)
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to fasten, draw together, or compress by or as if by means of a lace.
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to pass (a cord, leather strip, etc.), as through holes.
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to interlace or intertwine.
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to adorn or trim with lace.
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to add a small amount of alcoholic liquor or other substance to (food or drink).
He took his coffee laced with brandy.
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to lash, beat, or thrash.
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to compress the waist of (a person) by drawing tight the laces of a corset, or the like.
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to mark or streak, as with color.
verb (used without object)
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to be fastened with a lace.
These shoes lace up the side.
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to attack physically or verbally (often followed byinto ).
The teacher laced into his students.
noun
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a delicate decorative fabric made from cotton, silk, etc, woven in an open web of different symmetrical patterns and figures
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a cord or string drawn through holes or eyelets or around hooks to fasten a shoe or garment
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ornamental braid often used on military uniforms, etc
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a dash of spirits added to a beverage
verb
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to fasten (shoes, etc) with a lace
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(tr) to draw (a cord or thread) through holes, eyes, etc, as when tying shoes
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(tr) to compress the waist of (someone), as with a corset
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(tr) to add a small amount of alcohol or drugs to (food or drink)
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to streak or mark with lines or colours
the sky was laced with red
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(tr) to intertwine; interlace
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informal (tr) to give a sound beating to
Other Word Forms
- lacelike adjective
- lacer noun
- relace verb
- well-laced adjective
Etymology
Origin of lace
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English las < Old French laz, las ≪ Latin laqueus noose; (v.) Middle English lasen < Middle French lacier, lasser, lachier ( French lacer ) ≪ Latin laqueāre to enclose in a noose, trap
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In long, meandering speeches laced with peasant folklore, Museveni often appeals for more time, likening himself to a farmer leaving a plantation just as it starts bearing fruit.
From Barron's
New Zealand suffered from a lack of major partnerships after their big opening stand but Mitchell's 71-ball knock, laced with five fours and three sixes, ensured a challenging total.
From Barron's
Carley had been attending events wearing the epaulettes and sleeve lace of a rear admiral for years, but some had been waiting to catch him.
From BBC
He was seen wearing the epaulettes and sleeve lace of a Rear Admiral, a two-star position that is one of the highest ranks in the Royal Navy, at the event in November.
From BBC
Time and again, Ann’s hope is met with heart-wrenching pain, and to hear Seyfried’s angelic voice laced with her character’s despair is quite unlike anything I have ever experienced watching a film, musical or otherwise.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
