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Glite Dictionary
👟 Not tied 🗣️ Frank or informal
unlaced

unlaced

1 3.4
The strings on a shoe or clothing are not tied and hang loose
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈleɪst/
translation icon : desatado
  • He wears a leather jacket and baggy old tux pants, accented by chains, earrings, and unlaced Doc Martens.
  • unlaced sneakers
  • unlaced boots
  • unlaced gym shoes

Examples

  • In the bathroom, Duke's unlaced boots.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I pick out Benjy in his orange T-shirt, oversized army pants, and unlaced sneakers.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Got a pair of unlaced Jordans, too.

    Jungle Fever (1991)

  • They both had on only flimsy clothes, and his shirt was still unlaced, open to the air.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Riley was wearing just a T-shirt and his boxers, and had a pair of unlaced sneakers on his feet.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Miss Rose, in a chenille robe and unlaced saddle oxfords, stood up from her chair and looked him dead in the eye.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • He wore his new shoes unlaced, feeling comfortable and casual.

  • The child ran around with his sneakers unlaced, eager to play without restrictions.

  • As she hurried to catch the bus, her boots were left unlaced, trailing behind her.

Synonyms

undone
vsunlaced
9 2.0

Not fastened so clothing or items come open

is specific to laces on footwear rather than general fastenings
untied
vsunlaced
7 1.0

Loose and not fastened so laces or knots hang open

applies only to laces on shoes or clothing rather than other knots
unfastened
vsunlaced
2.4

Not tied, closed, or attached

is limited to laces on footwear or clothing rather than any unsecured item

Antonyms

laced
1.4

Fastened with a thin string put through holes, like on shoes

How Fastened

to secure
347 3.3
fastened
1.3
tied
1.0
loose
155 1.0
unlaced
1 3.4
untied
7 1.0

Surface Forms

unlaced positive

Morphology

unlaced = laced (transparent) = un + lace + ed

The meaning is clearly derived from 'laced' with the prefix 'un-' indicating the opposite action.

Etymology

Unlaced comes from the part un- meaning 'not' and lace, the thin cord used in a shoelace or to tie clothes. So it literally means 'not tied', as with shoes or clothing.