n. & v.
--n.
1. a fine open fabric, esp. of cotton or silk, made by weaving thread in patterns and used esp. to trim blouses, underwear, etc.
2 a cord or leather strip passed through eyelets or hooks on opposite sides of a shoe, corsets, etc., pulled tight and fastened.
3 braid used for trimming esp. dress uniform (gold lace).
--v.
1. tr. (usu. foll. by up) a fasten or tighten (a shoe, corsets, etc.) with a lace or laces. b compress the waist of (a person) with a laced corset.
2 tr. flavour or fortify (coffee, beer, etc.) with a dash of spirits.
3 tr. (usu. foll. by with) a streak (a sky etc.) with colour (cheek laced with blood). b interlace or embroider (fabric) with thread etc.
4 tr. & (foll. by into) intr. colloq. lash, beat, defeat.
5 tr. (often foll. by through) pass (a shoelace etc.) through.
6 tr. trim with lace.
Phrases and idioms:
lace-glass Venetian glass with lacelike designs. lace-pillow a cushion placed on the lap and providing support in lacemaking. lace-up
--n. a shoe fastened with a lace.
--attrib.adj. (of a shoe etc.) fastened by a lace or laces.
Etymology: ME f. OF laz, las, lacier ult. f. L laqueus noose