Definition

1. Noun:

   • A delicate, openwork fabric made by weaving, knitting, or knotting threads into intricate, often symmetrical, patterns. It is typically used for decoration or trimming on clothing and furnishings.
   • A cord or string used to fasten something by being drawn through eyelets or hooks, such as on a shoe or a garment.

2. Verb:

   • To add a substance, especially alcohol, to a drink or food.
   • To draw a cord or string through eyelets or holes to fasten or tighten something.
   • To make or decorate something with lace fabric or a lacy pattern.
   • To twist or intertwine things together.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The wedding dress was trimmed with beautiful handmade lace.
  • He tied the lace of his running shoe tightly.

• Verb:

  • The bartender laced the cocktail with a premium whiskey.
  • Please help me lace up the back of this dress.
  • She learned to lace intricate patterns for her craft projects.
  • The vines laced together to form a dense canopy.

Advanced Usage

• "to lace into someone": To criticize or attack someone verbally or physically.

  • The manager laced into the team for their poor performance.

• "with a lace of (something)": Containing a small, noticeable amount of another quality.

  • Her speech was delivered with a lace of irony.

Variants and Related Words

• Lacy (adj): Made of or resembling lace; having a delicate, openwork pattern.

  • She wore a lacy blouse.

• Lacing (n): The act of fastening with a lace; also, a cord or string used for lacing.

  • The lacing on the boot was intricate.

Synonyms

• Noun (fabric): Openwork, filigree, netting.
• Noun (cord): String, shoelace, tie.
• Verb (fasten): Tie, fasten, thread.
• Verb (add alcohol): Spike, fortify, mix.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lace up: To fasten something by tying its laces.

  • He sat down to lace up his boots.

• Lace with: To include or add a small amount of something, often surreptitiously.

  • The story was laced with humor.

Related Idioms

• Straight-laced (also strait-laced): Being very strict or severe in behavior or morals.

  • He was too straight-laced to enjoy the wild party.

• Lace one's fingers: To interlock one's fingers with those of another person or with each other.

  • She laced her fingers together nervously.

Noun

1. a delicate decorative fabric woven in an open web of symmetrical patterns
2. a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)

Verb

1. add alcohol to (beverages)
   • the punch is spiked!
2. draw through eyes or holes
   • lace the shoelaces
3. do lacework
   • The Flemish women were lacing in front of the cathedral
4. make by braiding or interlacing
   • lace a tablecloth
5. spin,wind, or twist together
   • intertwine the ribbons
   • Twine the threads into a rope
   • intertwined hearts