lace

[ leys ]

noun

1. a netlike ornamental fabric made of threads by hand or machine.
2. a cord or string for holding or drawing together, as when passed through holes in opposite edges.
3. ornamental cord or braid, especially of gold or silver, used to decorate uniforms, hats, etc.
4. a small amount of alcoholic liquor or other substance added to food or drink.

verb (used with object)

, laced, lac·ing.

1. to fasten, draw together, or compress by or as if by means of a lace.
2. to pass (a cord, leather strip, etc.), as through holes.
3. to interlace or intertwine.
4. to adorn or trim with lace.
5. to add a small amount of alcoholic liquor or other substance to (food or drink):

   He took his coffee laced with brandy.

6. to lash, beat, or thrash.
7. to compress the waist of (a person) by drawing tight the laces of a corset, or the like.
8. to mark or streak, as with color.

verb (used without object)

, laced, lac·ing.

1. to be fastened with a lace:

   These shoes lace up the side.

2. to attack physically or verbally (often followed by into ):

   The teacher laced into his students.

lace

/ leɪs /

noun

1. a delicate decorative fabric made from cotton, silk, etc, woven in an open web of different symmetrical patterns and figures
2. a cord or string drawn through holes or eyelets or around hooks to fasten a shoe or garment
3. ornamental braid often used on military uniforms, etc
4. a dash of spirits added to a beverage

verb

1. to fasten (shoes, etc) with a lace
2. tr to draw (a cord or thread) through holes, eyes, etc, as when tying shoes
3. tr to compress the waist of (someone), as with a corset
4. tr to add a small amount of alcohol or drugs to (food or drink)
5. tr; usually passiveand foll bywith to streak or mark with lines or colours

   the sky was laced with red

6. tr to intertwine; interlace
7. informal.
   tr to give a sound beating to

Derived Forms

• ˈlacer, noun
• ˈlaceˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• lacelike adjective
• lacer noun
• re·lace verb relaced relacing
• well-laced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lace¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lace¹

C13 las, from Old French laz, from Latin laqueus noose

Example Sentences

You remember that doll’s dress as green instead of blue, because when you were that age your mother had a green dress with the same kind of lace collar as the doll’s.

From MIT Technology Review

So in response, we meticulously designed the Clove sneaker with fluid-repellent laces and uppers made from liquid-repellent and stain-resistant Clarino fabric, which can be cleaned easily with the same antibacterial wipes used in the hospital.

From Fortune

They also have a sneaker that has no laces which I love when I really just need to slip something on.

From Essence.com

The speed laces cinch tight for a secure fit and don’t flap around when I’m swimming, which is a problem with some similar models.

From Outside Online

Parents have declared unequivocally that they want more than higher test scores and yet all funds to public schools are tied to test scores like laces on shoes.

From Voice of San Diego

They lifted her up, and when they saw that she was laced too tightly, they cut the stay lace in two.

From The Daily Beast

More items came in time, as funding was available, like a slit-and-lace-up jacket and a line of boxer underwear.

From The Daily Beast

And no amount of fancy lace could ever have competed with the joy of sleep.

From The Daily Beast

One 1918 example, in wispy silk chiffon and lace is even trimmed in mink!

From The Daily Beast

In the Forum Club, there is taffeta and lace, leather and gold.

From The Daily Beast

On his head was the second-hand hat of some parvenu's coachman, gold lace, cockade and all.

From Project Gutenberg

C was a Captain, all covered with lace; D was a drunkard, and had a red face.

From Project Gutenberg

Ramona had covered the box with white cloth, and the lace altar-cloth thrown over it fell in folds to the floor.

From Project Gutenberg

She rose impatiently and bathed her eyes before ringing for the maid to lace her for dinner—it was long past tea-time.

From Project Gutenberg

She still wore the shabby lace and the artificial bunch of violets on the side of her head.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fortify
• interweave
• mix
• spike
• strap