Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense laces, present participle lacing, past tense, past participle laced
1. uncountable noun
Lace is a very delicate cloth which is made with a lot of holes in it. It is made by twisting together very fine threads of cotton to form patterns.
She finally found the perfect gown, a beautiful creation trimmed with lace.
...a plain white lace bedspread.
Synonyms: netting, net, filigree, tatting More Synonyms of lace
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Laces are thin pieces of material that are put through special holes in some types of clothing, especially shoes. The laces are tied together in order to tighten the clothing.
Barry was sitting on the bed, tying the laces of an old pair of running shoes. [+ of]
Synonyms: cord, tie, string, lacing More Synonyms of lace
3. verb
If you lace something such as a pair of shoes, you tighten the shoes by pulling the laces through the holes, and usually tying them together.
I have a good pair of skates, but no matter how tightly I lace them, my ankles wobble. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: fasten, tie, tie up, do up More Synonyms of lace
Lace up means the same as lace.
He sat on the steps, and laced up his boots. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Nancy was lacing her shoe up when the doorbell rang. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
4. verb
To lace food or drink with a substance such as alcohol or a drug means to put a small amountof the substance into the food or drink.
She laced his food with sleeping pills. [VERB noun + with]
Synonyms: mix, drug, doctor, add to More Synonyms of lace
5. verb
If you lace your speech or writing with words of a particular kind, you include a lot of those words in what you say or write.
Fred liked to lace his conversation with military terms. [VERB noun with noun]
...a speech laced with wry humour. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: enrich, pepper, spice, sprinkle More Synonyms of lace
6. verb
If you lace your fingers together, you put the palms of your hands together and fold your fingers over, fitting the fingers of one hand between the fingers of the other.
He took to lacing his fingers together in an attempt to keep his hands still. [V pl-n together]
[Also V pl-n]
Synonyms: intertwine, interweave, entwine, twine More Synonyms of lace
Phrasal verbs:
See lace up
lace in British English
(leɪs)
noun
1.
a delicate decorative fabric made from cotton, silk, etc, woven in an open web of different symmetrical patterns and figures
2.
a cord or string drawn through holes or eyelets or around hooks to fasten a shoe or garment
3.
ornamental braid often used on military uniforms, etc
4.
a dash of spirits added to a beverage
verb
5.
to fasten (shoes, etc) with a lace
6. (transitive)
to draw (a cord or thread) through holes, eyes, etc, as when tying shoes
7. (transitive)
to compress the waist of (someone), as with a corset
8. (transitive)
to add a small amount of alcohol or drugs to (food or drink)
9. (tr; usually passive; and foll bywith)
to streak or mark with lines or colours
the sky was laced with red
10. (transitive)
to intertwine; interlace
11. (transitive) informal
to give a sound beating to
Derived forms
lacelike (ˈlaceˌlike)
adjective
lacer (ˈlacer)
noun
Word origin
C13 las, from Old French laz, from Latin laqueus noose
lace in American English
(leɪs)
noun
1.
a string, ribbon, etc. used to draw together and fasten the parts of a shoe, corset, etc. by beingdrawn through eyelets or over hooks
2.
an ornamental braid of gold or silver, for trimming uniforms, hats, etc.
3.
a fine netting or openwork fabric of cotton, polyester, etc., woven in ornamental designs
verb transitiveWord forms: laced or
4.
to draw the ends of (a garment, shoe, etc.) together and fasten with a lace
5.
to compress the waist of by lacing a corset, etc.
often with up
6.
to pass (a cord, etc.) in and out through eyelets, fabric, etc.
7.
to weave together; intertwine
8.
to ornament with or as with lace
9.
a.
to streak, as with color
b.
to diversify, as with a contrasting element
10.
a.
to thrash; whip
b.
to hit hard
the batter laced the ball into center field
11.
to add a dash of alcoholic liquor to (a beverage)
verb intransitive
12.
to be fastened with a lace
these shoes lace
13. Informal
to attack physically or verbally
with into
Word origin
ME las < OFr las, laz < L laqueus, a noose, snare, trap < IE base *lēk- > OE læla, a whip
Examples of 'lace' in a sentence
lace
If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organising.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The comments were hardly noticed in a speech laced with staggering figures about the sharp increase in borrowing and debt facing Britain over the coming years.
The Sun (2016)
Now, imagine doing all of that in what is basically bridal gear: a white lace pencil skirt and a pair of white high heels.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Hard news is often laced with gossip.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He is thought to have been offered a drink laced with cyanide.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We have to do it with our laces tied together.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Thick shoes with more laces than are necessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She wore a white lace blouse with a dark red stone at the throat.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Then there were luxury goods like silk and lace.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Also a fine shawl and lace tattoos all over the top of my body.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The shoes are then laced tightly for a snug fit.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Now, put on a lace body.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's time to get arty with an old lace top!
The Sun (2013)
We had white lace net curtains, so filthy that nobody could see in.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What better time for lace and silk, bows and frills in the undies department?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It also has beautiful lace inserts at the neckline, which are an unexpected contrast to the wool.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There were more serious nods to craft too, in fine filigree lace dresses and richly embroidered pieces.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
S how off a piece of heavy cotton lace on a very simple lightweight curtain.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
I had bought a beautiful vintage lace wedding dress.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can see hundreds of threads at a single glance: sometimes an entire meadow laced together with gold.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He said police were awaiting medical tests before they could confirm reports the victims' food was laced with sedatives.
The Sun (2016)
Trim away the excess fabric and lace and stitch along the outline again, covering the raw edges with zigzag stitch.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
She says she's looking forward to lots of lace, big gowns and bare feet.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
lace
fabric
In other languages
lace
British English: lace /leɪs/ NOUN
clothLace is a pretty cloth that has patterns of holes in it.
Her dress was dark blue with a white lace collar.
American English: lace
Arabic: تَخْزِيـمَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: laço
Chinese: 花边
Croatian: čipka
Czech: krajka
Danish: knipling
Dutch: kant
European Spanish: encaje
Finnish: pitsi
French: dentelle
German: Spitze Handarbeit
Greek: δαντέλα
Italian: merletto
Japanese: レース 布
Korean: 레이스
Norwegian: knipling
Polish: koronka
European Portuguese: renda
Romanian: dantelă
Russian: кружево
Latin American Spanish: encaje
Swedish: spets
Thai: ลูกไม้
Turkish: dantel
Ukrainian: мереживо
Vietnamese: dây buộc
British English: lace /leɪs/ NOUN
shoelaceLaces are like pieces of string for fastening shoes.
He put on his shoes and tied the laces.
American English: lace
Arabic: رِبَاطُ الـحِذَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: cadarço
Chinese: 鞋带
Croatian: vezice
Czech: tkaničkado bot
Danish: snørrebånd
Dutch: veter
European Spanish: cordón
Finnish: nauha
French: lacet
German: Schnürsenkel
Greek: κορδόνι
Italian: lacci
Japanese: ひも
Korean: 레이스
Norwegian: lisse
Polish: sznurówka
European Portuguese: cordão
Romanian: șiret
Russian: шнурок
Latin American Spanish: cordón
Swedish: snören
Thai: เชือกรองเท้า
Turkish: bağcık
Ukrainian: шнурок
Vietnamese: dây buộc
All related terms of 'lace'
lace up
to tighten or fasten ( clothes or footwear ) with laces
gold lace
a gold-coloured braid which is used to decorate uniforms
lace bug
a small bug of the family Tingidae, having a delicate pattern in the wing venation . They are plant feeders and include the thistle lace bugs ( Tingis cardui and T. ampliata ) and the rhododendron bug ( Stephanitis rhododendri )
lace into
to attack violently, either verbally or physically
lace-ups
Lace-ups are shoes which are fastened with laces .
sea lace
a brown seaweed , Chorda filum , that grows on stones under sandy bottoms and produces chordlike fronds up to 8.5 metres (28 ft) long
blonde lace
a French pillow lace , originally of unbleached cream-coloured Chinese silk , later of bleached or black-dyed silk
bobbin lace
lace made with bobbins rather than with needle and thread ( needlepoint lace); pillow lace
Cluny lace
a strong heavy silk and cotton bobbin lace made at Cluny or elsewhere
cotton lace
machine-made lace made from cotton
pillow lace
lace made by winding thread around bobbins on a padded cushion or board
point lace
lace made by a needle with buttonhole stitch on a paper pattern
Alençon lace
an elaborate lace worked on a hexagonal mesh and used as a border, or a machine-made copy of this
Brussels lace
a fine lace with a raised or appliqué design
guipure lace
any of many types of heavy lace that have their pattern connected by brides , rather than supported on a net mesh
Mechlin lace
bobbin lace made at Mechlin , characterized by patterns outlined by a heavier flat thread
torchon lace
coarse linen or cotton lace with a simple openwork pattern
Chantilly lace
a delicate ornamental lace
lace-up shoes
shoes which are fastened with laces
Valenciennes
a flat bobbin lace typically having scroll and floral designs and originally made of linen , now often cotton
Queen Anne's lace
→ wild carrot
rhododendron bug
a small bug of the family Tingidae, having a delicate pattern in the wing venation . They are plant feeders and include the thistle lace bugs ( Tingis cardui and T. ampliata ) and the rhododendron bug ( Stephanitis rhododendri )
Honiton
a type of lace with a floral sprig pattern
macrame
ornamental work of knotted cord
Mechlin
a fine lace made in Mechelen, with the design clearly outlined by a heavier thread
needlepoint
embroidery done on canvas with the same stitch throughout so as to resemble tapestry