See Also: lace(2)(dictionary)
Lace(medicine)
lace(encyclopedia)
lace(1)(dictionary)
lace-up(dictionary)
Black Lace(dictionary)
lace 2, verb(dictionary)
Chantilly lace(encyclopedia)
strait-lace(dictionary)
tawdry lace(dictionary)

lace(2) (iou)



lace verb. ME.
[Old French lacier (mod. lacer) from Proto-Romance base of LACE noun.]
a. verb trans. Fasten or tighten with, or as with, a lace or string, now usu. with a lace or laces passed alternately through two rows of eyelet-holes or around two rows of hooks, studs, etc. (Foll. by up, also down, on, together.) ME.
W. Wharton I can even lean over to lace my boots.
b. verb intrans. Of a garment etc: be fastened by means of laces. L18.
verb trans. Catch as in a noose or snare; entangle, ensnare. LME-L15.
verb trans. Fasten (a person) into a garment etc. by means of a lace or laces; compress the waist of (a person) by drawing corset laces tight. LME.
T. Hardy He couldn't have moved from bed, So tightly laced in sheet and quilt..He lay. E. Feinstein Women were supposed to lace themselves tightly in silk.
b. verb intrans. Tighten or pull in corset laces; compress one's waist by so doing. L19.
a. verb trans. Thread with a lace, string, etc. LME.
fig.: H. George We..lace the air with telegraph wires.
b. verb trans. Pass (a cord etc.) in and out through holes, a fabric, etc. In Bookbinding, attach (the boards) to a sewn volume by passing the cords used through perforations in them (foll. by in). M17.
c. verb trans. Intertwine. L19.
T. O'Brien Sarah laced her fingers through mine.
d. verb intrans. Pass across a gap or about an object in a manner resembling or suggestive of lacing. L19.
H. G. Wells A flimsy seeming scaffolding that laced about the..Council House.
e. verb trans. Pass (film or tape) between the guides and other parts of a projector, tape recorder, etc., so that it runs from one spool to the other. Usu. foll. by up. M20.
verb trans. Ornament or trim with laces or with lace. L16.
Swift Have I not..laced your backs with gold.
verb trans.
a. Diversify with streaks of colour. Now freq. fig. L16.
H. Carpenter A reputation for lacing his instruction..with tags of Latin verse.
b. Flavour or fortify (a drink) with a dash of spirits, honey, etc.; add an extra ingredient to (a foodstuff), either to enhance or to adulterate it. (Foll. by with.) L17.
R. L. Stevenson A jug of milk, which she had..laced with whiskey. Daily Telegraph She laced his steak and kidney pie with..weedkiller.
verb trans. & intrans. with into. Beat, thrash; abuse physically or verbally. colloq. L16.
E. Wallace He laced me with a whip. Time Reviewers laced into the play.
verb trans. Cookery. Make a number of incisions in (the breast of a bird). M17-L18.
Comb.: lace-up adjective & noun (a) adjective (of footwear etc.) fastening with a lace or laces; (b) noun a lace-up shoe or boot (usu. in pl.).