lace

1 of 2

verb

laced; lacing

transitive verb

1
: to draw together the edges of by or as if by a lace passed through eyelets
laces her fingers behind her head
2
: to draw or pass (something, such as a lace) through something (such as eyelets)
3
: to confine or compress by tightening laces of a garment
4
a
: to adorn with or as if with lace
the surrounding countryside was laced with villages and hamletsL. C. Heinemann
b
: to mark with streaks of color
5
: beat, lash
6
a
: to add a dash of liquor to
b
: to add something to impart pungency, savor, or zest to
a sauce laced with garlic
conversation laced with sarcasm
c
: to adulterate with a substance
laced a guard's coffee with a sedative

intransitive verb

1
: to admit of being tied or fastened with a lace
2
: to make a verbal attack
usually used with into
his boss laced into him for being late
lacer noun

lace

2 of 2

noun

1
: a cord or string used for drawing together two edges (as of a garment or a shoe)
2
: an ornamental braid for trimming coats or uniforms
3
: an openwork usually figured fabric made of thread or yarn and used for trimmings, household coverings, and entire garments
laced adjective
laceless adjective
lacelike adjective

Examples of lace in a Sentence

Verb a dress that laces in the back the gardener laced the shoots of ivy around the trellis to direct their growth Noun I need new laces for these shoes. She wore lace on her wedding gown.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Creamy frozen yogurt laced with mint is so easy to make. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 Cooperman does a splendid job lacing these lines of inquiry through the essay while also suggesting that trying too hard to answer them risks missing the point of creating and experiencing beauty—which is to say, the doing and the feeling. Longreads, 1 Mar. 2024 Cocaine laced with fentanyl led to 3 overdose deaths Cocaine that was tainted with fentanyl was distributed from the Cab Louie Delivery Service to three different customers in September 2021, court documents stated. USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 The uniform evoked femininity laced into combat boots, as if to outfit its wearer for the rugged territory of emotional catharsis. Callie Holtermann Molly Matalon, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Readers typically know when they are being presented with fluff that is laced with keywords to encourage them to read on. Peter Boyd, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Every cup final is laced with tension, but with Liverpool seeking to send Klopp off with four trophies in his final season in charge and its starting lineup decimated by injury, the stakes for his club seemed higher than just winning a piece of silverware. Issy Ronald, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 The woods in the area are laced with trails and are a popular place for students and others to walk and jog. Wayne Ford, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024 The film is laced with dry humor but also poignancy and notes of melancholy. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024
Noun
The sheer vintage-style dress featured delicate lace details and intricate beadwork. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Emily Ratajkowski, for example, wore a directional Jacquemus bridal look, Cardi B was swathed in inky Atelier Versace spring 2003 lace, Kylie Jenner came dripping in blood-red Ludovic de Saint Sernin beads, and Kim Kardashian showed that simple is often the most impactful in pearlescent Balenciaga. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 Byron Lars Coco Barbie (2007): With a resale value of up to $1,101, the 2007 release is distinguished by her white puffer vest, lace skirt and bright pink gloves. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2024 One minute and 34 seconds of game time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked back into the game. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 The shoes, which feature both a front zipper and laces, are currently 40% off, down from $200 to just $119. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2024 Pair together opposing types of fabrics and materials like delicate lace, silk, and velvet with distressed leather and metals. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2024 The structure of this wine is breathtaking, like delicate lace that caresses the palate with nuanced finesse and has an extraordinary purity of fruit that is expressive on the very long finish. Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 The neutral lace in the laundry room of this 2020 Southern Living Idea House adds farmhouse flair. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lace.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French lacer, from Latin laqueare to ensnare, from laqueus

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French lace, laz, from Latin laqueus snare

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lace was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near lace

Cite this Entry

“Lace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lace. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lace

1 of 2 verb
laced; lacing
1
: to fasten or join with or as if with a lace
laced her shoes
2
: to adorn with or as if with lace
3
: intertwine, thread
lace the ribbon through the holes
4

lace

2 of 2 noun
1
: a cord or string for drawing together two edges (as of a shoe)
2
: an ornamental braid for trimming coats or uniforms
3
: a fine open-worked fabric of thread or cord used chiefly for ornament of dress
laced adjective
lacelike adjective
Etymology

Noun

Middle English las, lace "a string used to draw together two edges of material," from early French laz (same meaning), from Latin laqueus "noose, snare" — related to lash entry 3, lasso entry 1

Word Origin
When the ancient Romans wanted to trap a small animal, such as a rabbit, they used a loop of light rope laid on the ground in its path. A triggering device was used to tighten the loop around the animal. They called such a loop or noose laqueus, which became laz in early French. The English borrowed it as las in the 14th century. They used it to refer to a cord that holds something together by weaving, as a shoelace. Finally, it came to mean the delicate fabric made by weaving and knotting thin strands of material.

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