Definition

Noun: * A type of wood: The wood of the sycamore tree (specifically Platanus species), known for its distinctive, lace-like pattern when cut radially. It is characterized as being variably colored, sometimes variegated, and possessing qualities of hardness, toughness, and elasticity.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The cabinet was crafted from beautiful, figured lacewood.
  • Lacewood is prized by woodworkers for its unique medullary ray pattern.
  • The hardness and elasticity of lacewood make it suitable for certain specialty applications.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in woodworking, carpentry, and fine furniture making to describe both the material and its distinctive aesthetic quality.
• It is often specified in contrast to other figured woods like "birdseye maple" or "quartered oak," emphasizing its specific lace or fleck pattern.

Variants and Related Words

• Sycamore (n): The tree ( in North America, in Europe) that produces lacewood. While "sycamore" refers to the tree or its wood generally, "lacewood" specifically denotes the wood when its characteristic figure is revealed.
• Quarter-sawn (adj): A method of cutting lumber that most effectively reveals the lace-like figure in sycamore, producing what is called lacewood.

Synonyms

• Figured sycamore: A descriptive synonym highlighting the wood's pattern.
• Plane tree wood: A less common synonym, referencing the genus.

Notes on Meaning

• The definition refers specifically to the wood of sycamore trees. It is not a general term for any lacy-patterned wood, though similar patterns may be found in other species (e.g., some maples), which might be described informally with qualifiers (e.g., "lace-patterned maple").
• The descriptors "hard tough elastic" are technical qualities important for its use, differentiating it from softer or more brittle woods.

Noun

1. variably colored and sometimes variegated hard tough elastic wood of a sycamore tree