lacing

American  

[ley-sing] / ˈleɪ sɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that laces.

2. a trimming of lace or braid.

3. a beating or thrashing.

4. a small amount of alcoholic liquor or any other substance added to food or drink.

5. a lace used for fastening, as in a shoe or corset.

6. Building Trades, Engineering. any member or members, as a batten plate or steel bars, uniting the angles or flanges of a composite girder, column, or strut.

7. Also called lacing course.  Masonry.

   1. a course of brick in a wall of rubble.

   2. a bond course in a rowlock arch.

8. Nautical. any light line for fastening a sail, awning, or other cloth.

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lacing British  

/ ˈleɪsɪŋ /

noun

1. a course of bricks, stone, etc, for strengthening a rubble or flint wall

2. another word for lace lace

3. informal a severe beating (esp in the phrase give someone a lacing )

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Etymology

Origin of lacing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; lace, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

To Brady, it’s such an extreme level of body control that it reminds him more of the Olympians lacing it up in Milan than the football players at the Super Bowl.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Then, Smith came through again in the ninth, lacing a go-ahead, two-out RBI double off the wall in left that scored pinch-runner James Outman all the way from first base.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2025

He admits to targeting another summer or two as an England player, but doubts he will follow Anderson lacing up the boots into his fifth decade.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2025

Tillman, by the way, is fantastic here – moving and undulating along with the instrumentalists, lacing the music's joy with the character's menace.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2025

Seth leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Related Words

• beating
• blow
• breakdown
• collapse
• debacle
• destruction
• drubbing
• embarrassment
• failure
• killing
• loss
• massacre
• rout
• setback
• thrashing
• triumph