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Synonyms

lacing

American  
[ley-sing] / ˈleɪ sɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that laces.

  2. a trimming of lace or braid.

  3. a beating or thrashing.

  4. a small amount of alcoholic liquor or any other substance added to food or drink.

  5. a lace used for fastening, as in a shoe or corset.

  6. Building Trades, Engineering. any member or members, as a batten plate or steel bars, uniting the angles or flanges of a composite girder, column, or strut.

  7. Also called lacing course.  Masonry.

    1. a course of brick in a wall of rubble.

    2. a bond course in a rowlock arch.

  8. Nautical. any light line for fastening a sail, awning, or other cloth.

lacing British  
/ ˈleɪsɪŋ /

noun

  1. a course of bricks, stone, etc, for strengthening a rubble or flint wall

  2. another word for lace lace

  3. informal a severe beating (esp in the phrase give someone a lacing )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lacing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at lace, -ing 1

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.

Its asymmetrical lacing design gave players a larger striking surface on the inside of the foot, enhancing the control of the ball.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

It also feels like a moment — to use a sports metaphor, which I’m not an athlete — that you’re lacing up your shoes.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2025

He admits to targeting another summer or two as an England player, but doubts he will follow Anderson lacing up the boots into his fifth decade.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2025

He said that in 15 years of lacing up his cleats, he could only recall one minor muscle pull.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2025

“Tell her I read her post, and that I had no idea she would take everything so seriously,” Meg says, lacing her arm behind James.

From "Watch Us Rise" by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan

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.