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

I wanted to wear gold jewelry, so I planned to wear an all lace dress, but I found this gold one in my closest and thought it was a little more classy.

From Los Angeles Times

The 28-year-old, from Orpington, south-east London, was one of a number of people taken to hospital after drinking alcohol suspected to have been laced with methanol in the backpacking hotspot Vang Vieng.

From BBC

Mr Crew, who died aged 74, reportedly told nurses "I want to die today" before drinking water laced with barbiturates under the supervision of Dignitas.

From BBC

News reports say the tourists could have drunk alcohol laced with methanol, a toxic industrial chemical.

From BBC

He pointed out warblers, lace lichen and tree limbs coated in an orange algae called trentepohlia.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fortify
• interweave
• mix
• spike
• strap