Library / English Dictionary

LACE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A delicate decorative fabric woven in an open web of symmetrical patterns

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("lace" is a kind of...):

cloth; fabric; material; textile (artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lace"):

Brussels lace (fine lace with a raised or applique design)

filet (lace having a square mesh)

macrame (a relatively coarse lace; made by weaving and knotting cords)

bobbin lace; pillow lace (a handmade lace worked on a pillow with threads wound on bobbins; the pattern is marked out on the pillow by pins)

needlepoint; point lace (lace worked with a needle in a buttonhole stitch on a paper pattern)

Derivation:

lace (do lacework)

lace (make by braiding or interlacing)

lacy (made of or resembling lace)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)

Synonyms:

lace; lacing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("lace" is a kind of...):

cord (a line made of twisted fibers or threads)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lace"):

bootlace (a long lace for fastening boots)

shoe lace; shoe string; shoelace; shoestring (a lace used for fastening shoes)

Holonyms ("lace" is a part of...):

shoe (footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material)

Derivation:

lace (draw through eyes or holes)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Add alcohol to (beverages)

Example:

the punch is spiked!

Synonyms:

fortify; lace; spike

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "lace" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

lacing (a small amount of liquor added to a food or beverage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Spin, wind, or twist together

Example:

intertwined hearts

Synonyms:

enlace; entwine; interlace; intertwine; lace; twine

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "lace" is one way to...):

distort; twine; twist (form into a spiral shape)

Verb group:

twine (make by twisting together or intertwining)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lace"):

wind; wreathe (form into a wreath)

wattle (interlace to form wattle)

plash; pleach (interlace the shoots of)

knot; ravel; tangle (tangle or complicate)

splice (join by interweaving strands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Draw through eyes or holes

Example:

lace the shoelaces

Synonyms:

lace; lace up

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "lace" is one way to...):

bind; tie (fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord)

"Lace" entails doing...:

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lace"):

relace (lace again)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

lace (a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment))

lacer (a workman who laces shoes or footballs or books (during binding))

lacing (a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Do lacework

Example:

The Flemish women were lacing in front of the cathedral

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "lace" is one way to...):

tissue; weave (create a piece of cloth by interlacing strands of fabric, such as wool or cotton)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

They lace the cape

Derivation:

lace (a delicate decorative fabric woven in an open web of symmetrical patterns)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make by braiding or interlacing

Example:

lace a tablecloth

Synonyms:

braid; lace; plait

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "lace" is one way to...):

tissue; weave (create a piece of cloth by interlacing strands of fabric, such as wool or cotton)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

lace (a delicate decorative fabric woven in an open web of symmetrical patterns)

Credits

 Context examples: 

She is only nursing Mrs Wallis of Marlborough Buildings; a mere pretty, silly, expensive, fashionable woman, I believe; and of course will have nothing to report but of lace and finery.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst's gown—Here she was interrupted again.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Ocean water atop the tectonic plate runs down into the Earth's crust and upper mantle along fault lines that lace the area where the plates collide and bend.

(Seismic study reveals huge amount of water dragged into Earth’s interior, National Science Foundation)

Antarctica's bedrock is laced with rivers and lakes, the largest of which is the size of Lake Erie.

(Hot News from the Antarctic Underground, NASA)

They laced the hydrogel with hydrating silk proteins that promote healing and regeneration, then added progesterone.

(Scientists Help Frogs to Regenerate Their Limbs with Bioreactor Device, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The German, though he reeled for an instant before the thrust of the Englishman, struck his opponent so fairly upon the vizor that the laces burst, the plumed helmet flew to pieces, and Sir Nigel galloped on down the lists with his bald head shimmering in the sunshine.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was tricked out in his best; an immense blue coat, thick with brass buttons, hung as low as to his knees, and a fine laced hat was set on the back of his head.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Mrs. Thorpe, however, had one great advantage as a talker, over Mrs. Allen, in a family of children; and when she expatiated on the talents of her sons, and the beauty of her daughters, when she related their different situations and views—that John was at Oxford, Edward at Merchant Taylors', and William at sea—and all of them more beloved and respected in their different station than any other three beings ever were, Mrs. Allen had no similar information to give, no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend, and was forced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions, consoling herself, however, with the discovery, which her keen eye soon made, that the lace on Mrs. Thorpe's pelisse was not half so handsome as that on her own.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

My new fan just matches my flowers, my gloves fit to a charm, and the real lace on Aunt's mouchoir gives an air to my whole dress.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“Bless me!” said the old woman, “how badly your stays are laced! Let me lace them up with one of my nice new laces.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)