# lace

/ˈɫeɪs/ (US) · /lˈeɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lace
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. decorative fabric

noun · CEFR B1

a delicate cloth made of thread in a pattern with many small holes.

For teachers: a fine, openwork decorative fabric made by looping, twisting, or knitting thread in patterns.

- The bride's dress was covered in beautiful white lace.
- The antique tablecloth featured intricate handmade lace that had been passed down through several generations of the family.

### 2. shoe string

noun · CEFR B1

a string or cord used to tie shoes or clothes together.

For teachers: a cord or string used for drawing together the edges of shoes or garments by being passed through eyelets.

- He bent down to tie his loose lace before he tripped.
- The athlete tightened his laces securely to ensure his feet wouldn't slide inside his shoes during the sprint.

### 3. to tie shoes

verb · CEFR B1

to pull a string through holes to close a shoe or piece of clothing.

For teachers: to fasten or tighten a garment or shoe by pulling a cord through eyelets.

- She carefully laced her new boots all the way to the top.
- The Victorian corset required a second person to help lace the back tightly enough to achieve the desired silhouette.

### 4. to add a substance

verb · CEFR B2

to add a small amount of alcohol, a drug, or a strong flavour to a drink or food.

For teachers: to add a small amount of a powerful substance—such as alcohol, drugs, or poison—to food or drink, often secretly.

- The holiday punch was laced with a little bit of rum.
- The detective suspected that the victim's coffee had been laced with a sedative shortly before the robbery took place.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'with'.

### 5. to mix or interweave

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to mix one thing through another, like adding specific words into a speech.

For teachers: to intersperse or diversify something with another element; to weave together.

- His speech was laced with jokes that made everyone laugh.
- The author's prose was laced with subtle metaphors that only a careful reader would fully appreciate.

## Examples

- She tied the lace on her left shoe.
- The wedding dress was decorated with intricate white lace around the collar and sleeves.
- While modern lace is often mass-produced by machines, traditional handmade varieties remain highly valued for their complex geometric patterns and historical significance in high fashion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.