lace

1 of 2

verb

ˈlās How to pronounce lace (audio)
laced; lacing
Synonyms of lacenext

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 hamlets—L. 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
ˈlāst How to pronounce lace (audio)
adjective
laceless
ˈlās-ləs How to pronounce lace (audio)
adjective
lacelike
ˈlās-ˌlīk How to pronounce lace (audio)
adjective

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

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
Last year, the Google Play store suspended Pinduoduo’s app outside China after cybersecurity experts found that it was laced with malware. —Claire Fu, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024 Wyatt won a district title in 1972, but that was the last time the Chaps reached the post season until Miguel Garcia laced a single to center to score Eli Washington to walk off a 10-0, five-inning win over Fort Worth South Hills in a District 6-5A game at Wyatt High school. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lace 

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

Phrases Containing lace

Dictionary Entries Near lace

lac dye

lace

lacebark

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Lace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lace. Accessed 5 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

lace

1 of 2 verb
ˈlās How to pronounce lace (audio)
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
: beat entry 1 sense 1a, lash

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
ˈlāst How to pronounce lace (audio)
adjective
lacelike
ˈlā-ˌslīk How to pronounce lace (audio)
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.

More from Merriam-Webster on lace

Nglish: Translation of lace for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of lace for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lace

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