lace

lace

verb

Definition of LACE

1

to cause to twine about one another <the gardener laced the shoots of ivy around the trellis to direct their growth>

Synonyms enlace, entwine, implicate [archaic], interlace, intertwist, interweave, inweave, lace, ply, twist, weave, wreathe, writhe

Related Words braid, plait, plat, pleach; blend, fuse, join, link, mix

Near Antonyms disentangle, uncoil, untangle, untwine, unwind

2

to scatter or set here and there among other things <the decorator laced small mirrors among the knickknacks for added effect>

Synonyms interlace, intersperse, interweave, lace, salt, weave, wreathe

Related Words insert, intermingle, mingle, mix; alternate, juxtapose; amalgamate, assimilate, blend, combine, commingle, embody, fuse, incorporate, integrate, merge

3

to strike repeatedly <energetically laced the seaman's back with the cat-o'-nine-tails>

Synonyms bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib [British], flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop (or whap), whup, work over

Related Words assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp; blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap; gore, lacerate, wound; maim, mangle, mutilate

4

to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored <a savory dish laced with saffron and ginger>

Synonyms flavor, lace, savor (also savour), spice

Related Words enhance, enrich, sauce; pepper, salt; aromatize, perfume

5

to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <the unsuspecting woman's drink had been laced with a roofie>

Synonyms cut, dilute, extend, lace, sophisticate, thin, water down, weaken

Related Words load; befoul, contaminate, corrupt, defile, dirty, envenom, foul, infect, poison, pollute, soil, spoil, sully, taint; cheapen, debase, degrade; manipulate, misrepresent, tamper (with); counterfeit, fake, falsify, fudge; doctor, spike; attenuate, moderate, qualify, temper

Near Antonyms fertilize, lard; augment, reinforce (also reenforce), supplement; decontaminate, purify; clarify, clean, cleanse, distill (also distil), filter, flush, leach, pasteurize, purge, refine; better, enhance, improve; compact, concentrate, condense

Antonyms enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen