mace

/meɪs/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈes] /meɪs/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈes] /ˈmās/ (ame, mw)

mace — noun

  • macesingular
  • macesplural

1. the dried skin around nutmeg, used in cooking for a warm, sweet flavour.

1.名詞C1
釋義

the dried skin around nutmeg, used in cooking for a warm, sweet flavour.

例句

Tanvi stirred a little mace into the pumpkin soup before dinner.

add mace to food

The baker used mace and cinnamon in the warm fruit cake.

mace and cinnamon

同義詞
  • spice

    a broad category word; mace is one particular spice

  • seasoning

    broader and often includes salt or herbs, not just spices

文法句型

add mace to food

ground mace

mace and nutmeg

用法筆記

Usually uncountable when you mean the spice itself. It is closely related to nutmeg, but it has a lighter, sweeter flavour.

常見錯誤

❌The recipe asks for a mace.
✅The recipe asks for some mace.
💡This spice is usually uncountable when you mean the seasoning.

2. a brand name for a self-defense spray that brings sharp eye pain and heavy teari

2.名詞B2
釋義

a brand name for a self-defense spray that brings sharp eye pain and heavy tearing when it is sprayed into someone's face.

例句

The guard kept a can of Mace inside the front desk drawer.

a can of Mace

Roya bought Mace after walking home alone late at night.

carry Mace for self-defense

同義詞
  • pepper spray

    a broader everyday term; not every pepper spray is the Mace brand

  • defense spray

    generic and functional, without the brand meaning

文法句型

carry Mace

a can of Mace

use Mace for self-defense

用法筆記

Usually capitalized because it is a brand name. In everyday speech, people may use it loosely for similar defense sprays, but the strict sense is the trademarked product.

常見錯誤

❌She packed a mace in her bag.
✅She packed some Mace in her bag.
💡In this brand-name sense, capitalize the word.

3. a decorated staff carried before an official or a public body to show formal aut

3.名詞C2
釋義

a decorated staff carried before an official or a public body to show formal authority.

例句

The mayor's attendant carried the silver mace at the head of the parade.

carry the ceremonial mace

The university keeps its old mace in a glass case.

同義詞
  • staff

    broader; it can be ceremonial, practical, or symbolic

  • sceptre

    more strongly linked to kings and queens than to city or university ceremony

  • rod

    shape-focused and less formal than ceremonial mace

文法句型

carry the mace

the mace enters the chamber

用法筆記

This sense belongs to civic, university, or parliamentary ceremony. Distinguish it from sense 4, which is a weapon rather than a symbol of office.

常見錯誤

❌The king walked with a mace for support.
✅The king walked with a staff for support.
💡A ceremonial mace is a symbol of authority, not an ordinary walking stick.

4. a heavy club with a metal head, often fitted with spikes, used as an old weapon.

4.名詞C2
釋義

a heavy club with a metal head, often fitted with spikes, used as an old weapon.

例句

The knight swung a mace at the enemy's shield.

swing a mace

Museum visitors stopped beside a rusted mace from the fifteenth century.

同義詞
  • club

    the broad everyday word for a heavy stick used for hitting

  • cudgel

    also old-fashioned, but usually suggests plain wood rather than a metal head

  • bludgeon

    often stresses the brutal hitting more than the weapon's exact shape

文法句型

swing a mace

carry a mace

用法筆記

Most common in historical writing, fantasy stories, and museum descriptions. Distinguish it from sense 3, which names the symbolic staff used in ceremonies.

常見錯誤

❌The soldier wore a mace at his side.
✅The soldier carried a mace in his hand.
💡A mace is a heavy striking weapon, not something normally worn like a sword.

mace — verb