lace
Word family
- lacedadjectiveB2
- lacyadjectiveB2
- lacingnounC1
- unlaceverbB2
- lacelessadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All five terms describe decorative needlework, but they differ in technique and appearance. Lace is made by twisting, looping, or braiding threads into an open web of patterns with deliberate holes; it is typically thin, delicate, and used as trim or a sheer fabric. Embroidery decorates an existing fabric base by stitching coloured threads onto it — the background cloth remains visible, unlike lace where the holes are part of the structure. Crochet uses a single hooked needle to create interlocking loops of yarn, producing a thicker, stretchier fabric than lace. Netting is a plain open-mesh structure, usually with regular diamond or square openings, and is more functional than decorative. Tatting is a specific hand technique that makes very fine, dense lace-like motifs using a small shuttle. For everyday learners, 'lace' is the broadest and most common word; 'embroidery' is the next most frequent but refers to a different technique. A dress might have 'lace trim' (an open fabric attached to the edge) or 'embroidered flowers' (stitches on the fabric itself).
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'lace' came into English from Old French 'las' (meaning a noose, snare, or cord), which itself came from Latin 'laqueus' (a noose or trap). In medieval English, 'lace' first referred to any cord or string used for fastening clothing — the shoelace sense is closest to this original meaning. Around the 1500s, the word began to refer specifically to the decorative open-weave fabric we know today, which was made by carefully looping and twisting threads. The verb developed naturally from the idea of fastening with a cord; the sense of secretly adding something to food or drink emerged in the 1800s, probably from the idea of lacing a garment tightly — as if the substance is woven into the food.