Lace can be defined as an ornamental and transparent fabric, traditionally made by hand, which is decorated with embroidery. There are also machine-made laces.
Lace is so called because it used to be made between the edges of two parallel strips of canvas, like a work inlaid among them, and was called "Randa" from the German "Rand" meaning border or edge, because it often bordered another piece.
It is also known as needle lace, although this name applies only to small lace.