n. [ OE. las, OF. laz, F. lacs, dim. lacet, fr. L. laqueus noose, snare; prob. akin to lacere to entice. Cf. Delight, Elicit, Lasso, Latchet. ] 1. That which binds or holds, especially by being interwoven; a string, cord, or band, usually one passing through eyelet or other holes, and used in drawing and holding together parts of a garment, of a shoe, of a machine belt, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

His hat hung at his back down by a lace. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

For striving more, the more in laces strong
Himself he tied. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A snare or gin, especially one made of interwoven cords; a net. [ Obs. ] Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vulcanus had caught thee [ Venus ] in his lace. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A fabric of fine threads of linen, silk, cotton, etc., often ornamented with figures; a delicate tissue of thread, much worn as an ornament of dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our English dames are much given to the wearing of costly laces. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Spirits added to coffee or some other beverage. [ Old Slang ] Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alençon lace, a kind of point lace, entirely of needlework, first made at Alençon in France, in the 17th century. It is very durable and of great beauty and cost. --
Bone lace,
Brussels lace, etc. See under Bone, Brussels, etc. --
Gold lace, or
Silver lace, lace having warp threads of silk, or silk and cotton, and a weft of silk threads covered with gold (or silver), or with gilt. --
Lace leather, thin, oil-tanned leather suitable for cutting into lacings for machine belts. --
Lace lizard (Zool.), a large, aquatic, Australian lizard (Hydrosaurus giganteus), allied to the monitors. --
Lace paper, paper with an openwork design in imitation of lace. --
Lace piece (Shipbuilding), the main piece of timber which supports the beak or head projecting beyond the stem of a ship. --
Lace pillow, and
Pillow lace. See under Pillow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Laced p. pr. & vb. n. Lacing ] 1. To fasten with a lace; to draw together with a lace passed through eyelet holes; to unite with a lace or laces, or, figuratively. with anything resembling laces. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

When Jenny's stays are newly laced. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To adorn with narrow strips or braids of some decorative material; as, cloth laced with silver. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To beat; to lash; to make stripes on. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll lace your coat for ye. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To add something to (a food or beverage) so as to impart flavor, pungency, or some special quality; as, to lace a punch with alcohol; to lace the Kool-Aid with LSD. [ Old Slang ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

5. To twine or draw as a lace; to interlace; to intertwine. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

The Gond . . . picked up a trail of the Karela, the vine that bears the bitter wild gourd, and laced it to and fro across the temple door. Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. To be fastened with a lace, or laces; as, these boots lace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small tree or shrub (Hoheria populnea) of New Zealand having a profusion of axillary clusters of honey-scented paper-white flowers and whose bark is used for cordage.
Syn. -- ribbonwood, houhere, Hoheria populnea. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Bot.) A shrub in the West Indies (Lagetta Iintearia); -- so called from the lacelike layers of its inner bark. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Fastened with a lace or laces; decorated with narrow strips or braid. See Lace, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Decorated with the fabric lace. [ 1913 Webster ]

A shirt with laced ruffles. Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laced mutton, a prostitute. [ Old slang ] --
Laced stocking, a strong stocking which can be tightly laced; -- used in cases of weak legs, varicose veins, etc. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Lacedamonius, Gr. Lakedaimo`nios, fr. Lakedai`mwn Lacedæmon. ] Of or pertaining to Lacedæmon or Sparta, the chief city of Laconia in the Peloponnesus. -- n. A Spartan. [ Written also Lacedemonian. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To attack vigorously; -- used of physical or verbal attacks; as, the boss laced into him for coming to the meeting late. [ PJC ]

n.; pl. Lacemen A man who deals in lace. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. lacerabilis: cf. F. lacérable. ] That can be lacerated or torn. [ 1913 Webster ]