lace
- a netlike ornamental fabric made of threads by hand or machine.
- a cord or string for holding or drawing together, as when passed through holes in opposite edges.
- ornamental cord or braid, especially of gold or silver, used to decorate uniforms, hats, etc.
- a small amount of alcoholic liquor or other substance added to food or drink.
- to fasten, draw together, or compress by or as if by means of a lace.
- to pass (a cord, leather strip, etc.), as through holes.
- to interlace or intertwine.
- to adorn or trim with lace.
- to add a small amount of alcoholic liquor or other substance to (food or drink): He took his coffee laced with brandy.
- to lash, beat, or thrash.
- to compress the waist of (a person) by drawing tight the laces of a corset, or the like.
- to mark or streak, as with color.
- to be fastened with a lace: These shoes lace up the side.
- to attack physically or verbally (often followed by into): The teacher laced into his students.
Origin of lace
Examples from the Web for lacer
Historical Examples
Lacer is derived from laqs, a rope, a noose; and this comes from laqueus.
Lacer: a lappet; applied to a margin with irregular, broad and deep emarginations, leaving lappet-like intervals.
Explanation of Terms Used in EntomologyJohn. B. Smith
lace
- a delicate decorative fabric made from cotton, silk, etc, woven in an open web of different symmetrical patterns and figures
- a cord or string drawn through holes or eyelets or around hooks to fasten a shoe or garment
- ornamental braid often used on military uniforms, etc
- a dash of spirits added to a beverage
- to fasten (shoes, etc) with a lace
- (tr) to draw (a cord or thread) through holes, eyes, etc, as when tying shoes
- (tr) to compress the waist of (someone), as with a corset
- (tr) to add a small amount of alcohol or drugs to (food or drink)
- (tr; usually passive and foll by with) to streak or mark with lines or coloursthe sky was laced with red
- (tr) to intertwine; interlace
- (tr) informal to give a sound beating to
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for lacer
lace
n.
early 13c., laz, "cord made of braided or interwoven strands of silk, etc.," from Old French laz "a net, noose, string, cord, snare" (Modern French lacs), from Vulgar Latin *lacium, from Latin laqueum (nominative laqueus) "noose, snare" (Italian laccio, Spanish lazo), a trapping and hunting term, probably from Italic base *laq- "to ensnare" (cf. Latin lacere "to entice"). Later also "net, noose, snare" (c.1300); "piece of cord used to draw together the edges of slits or openings in an article of clothing" (late 14c.). The "ornamental net pattern" meaning is first recorded 1550s. Sense of "cord for tying" remains in shoelace. As an adjective, lace-curtain "middle class" (or lower-class with middle-class pretensions) usually is used in reference to Irish-Americans, by 1928.
lace
v.
c.1200, "fasten (clothing, etc.) with laces and ties;" see lace (n.). Also "tighten (a garment) by pulling its laces" (early 14c.). To lace coffee, etc., with a dash of liquor (1670s) originally was used of sugar, and comes via the notion of "to ornament or trim." Related: Laced; lacing. Laced mutton was "an old word for a whore" [Johnson].