1. A cord or ribbon used to draw and tie together two opposite edges, as of a shoe. 2. A delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern. Also called lacework. 3. Gold or silver braid ornamenting an officer's uniform.
VERB:
Inflected forms: laced, lac·ing, lac·es
TRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To thread a cord through the eyelets or around the hooks of. 2a. To draw together and tie the laces of. b. To restrain or constrict by tightening laces, especially of a corset. 3. To pull or pass through; intertwine: lace garlands through a trellis.4. To trim or decorate with or as if with lace. 5a. To add a touch of flavor to: “today's chefs love to lace their goods with lively, pronounced flavors” (David Rosengarten, Food and Wine 10/90). b. To add a substance, especially an intoxicant or narcotic, to: laced the eggnog with rum and brandy.c. To add or intersperse with something in order to produce a certain effect: “Quacks now lace their pitch with scientific terms that may sound authentic to the uninformed” (Jane E. Brody). 6. To streak with color. 7. To give a beating to; thrash: laced his opponent in the second round.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
To be fastened or tied with laces or a lace.
PHRASAL VERB:
lace intoInformal To attack; assail: laced into me for arriving so late.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French las, noose, string, from Vulgar Latin *laceum, from Latin laqueus, noose; akin to probably akin to lacere, to entice, ensnare.
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less —ADJECTIVE
