A mace is an ornamental stick carried by an official or placed somewhere as a symbol of authority.
2. uncountable noun
Mace is a spice, usually in the form of a powder, made from the shell of nutmegs.
3. uncountable noun
Mace is a substance that causes tears and sickness, and that is used in sprays as a defence against rioters or attackers.
[trademark]
More Synonyms of mace
mace in British English1
(meɪs)
noun
1.
a club, usually having a spiked metal head, used esp in the Middle Ages
2.
a ceremonial staff of office carried by certain officials
3.
an early form of billiard cue
Word origin
C13: from Old French, probably from Vulgar Latin mattea (unattested); apparently related to Latin mateola mallet
mace in British English2
(meɪs)
noun
a spice made from the dried aril round the nutmeg seed
Word origin
C14: formed as a singular from Old French macis (wrongly assumed to be plural), from Latin macir an oriental spice
Mace in British English
(meɪs) US
noun
1. trademark
a liquid causing tears and nausea, used as a spray for riot control, etc
verb
2. (tr; sometimes not capital)
to use Mace on
Mace in American English
(meɪs)
trademark
1.
a chemical compound, prepared for use in aerosol containers, that has the combined effect of a tear gas and a nerve gas, temporarily stunning its victims
: in full Chemical Mace
noun
2. [oftenm-]
such a compound, or a container of it
verb transitiveWord forms: Maced or ˈMacing [oftenm-]
3.
to spray with Mace
Word origin
< mace1
mace in American English1
(meɪs)
noun
1.
a.
a heavy medieval war club, often with a spiked, metal head
b.
any similar weapon
2.
a.
a staff used as a symbol of authority by certain officials
b.
macebearer
Word origin
ME < OFr masse < VL *mattea, a club < L *matea < IE base *mat-, a hoe, club > mattock
mace in American English2
(meɪs)
noun
a spice, usually ground, made from the dried outer covering of the nutmeg
Word origin
ME, assumed as sing. of macis, mace < OFr < ML, prob. scribal error for L macir < Gr makir, a fragrant resin from India
Examples of 'mace' in a sentence
mace
For reasons of both history and geography, the clove is often paired with nutmeg and mace.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
A good pinch of ground mace.
The Sun (2009)
Simmer for a few minutes and season well to taste, adding the ground mace, nutmeg and a generous grating of pepper.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
From somewhere in the scattered islands of the archipelago came the most elusive and costly spices of all: cloves, nutmeg and mace.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
But I cannot find ground mace, so opt for nutmeg.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Word lists with
mace
herb
(noun)
Definition
a club with a spiked metal head used in the Middle Ages
a life-size statue of the king holding a golden mace
Synonyms
staff
We carried a staff that was notched at various lengths.
club
Men armed with knives and clubs attacked his home.
stick
Crowds armed with sticks and stones took to the streets.
cosh
cudgel
He has slept with a cudgel by his bed since being burgled.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of club
Definition
a stout stick used as a weapon
Men armed with knives and clubs attacked his home.
Synonyms
stick,
bat,
bludgeon,
truncheon (British),
cosh (British),
cudgel
in the sense of cudgel
Definition
a short thick stick used as a weapon
He has slept with a cudgel by his bed since being burgled.
Synonyms
club,
stick,
baton,
bludgeon,
truncheon (British),
cosh (British),
shillelagh,
bastinado,
mere (New Zealand),
patu (New Zealand)
in the sense of stick
Definition
such a piece of wood shaped for a special purpose
Crowds armed with sticks and stones took to the streets.