interlace

[ in-ter-leys, in-ter-leys ]

See synonyms for interlace on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),in·ter·laced, in·ter·lac·ing.

to cross one another, typically passing alternately over and under, as if woven together; intertwine: Their hands interlaced.

verb (used with object),in·ter·laced, in·ter·lac·ing.

to unite or arrange (threads, strips, parts, branches, etc.) so as to intercross one another, passing alternately over and under; intertwine.
to mingle; blend.

to diversify, as with threads woven in.
to intersperse; intermingle: She interlaced her lecture on Schubert with some of his songs.

Origin of interlace

1325–75; inter- + lace; replacing Middle English entrelacen<Middle French en-trelacer

Other words from interlace

in·ter·lac·ed·ly [in-ter-ley-sid-lee], /ˌɪn tərˈleɪ sɪd li/, adverb
in·ter·lace·ment, noun
un·in·ter·laced, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use interlace in a sentence

Did you know it was the interlacing of the round arches that gave the first idea of the pointed arch, dear?
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 108, April 6, 1895 | Various
The plum-trees and laburnums were in blossom; their white and yellow masses gleamed through the interlacing boughs.
Toilers of the Sea | Victor Hugo
The air circulates freely under the leafy canopy formed by their interlacing branches, but the suns rays do not penetrate.
The Desert World | Arthur Mangin
The barrel of the rifle barely showed itself through the interlacing root ends.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm | Irvin S. Cobb
The spreading crowns of the trees and the interlacing vines form a nearly continuous canopy over the lower layers.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El Peten, Guatemala | William E. Duellman

British Dictionary definitions for interlace

interlace

/ (ˌɪntəˈleɪs) /

verb

to join together (patterns, fingers, etc) by crossing, as if woven; intertwine
(tr) to mingle or blend in an intricate way

(tr usually foll by with) to change the pattern of; diversify; intersperse: to interlace a speech with humour

Derived forms of interlace

interlacedly (ˌɪntəˈleɪsɪdlɪ), adverb
interlacement, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse