Literally, interlace describes the act of joining strands in an intertwined design. In poetry, it is useful for texts that combine multiple strands of meaning or move between different levels of thought. It belongs in craft language because it evokes patterned joining and decorative complexity.

Interlace describes the crossing and weaving together of multiple elements, closely related to braid and weave but often implying a more intricate, ornamental pattern, as seen in Celtic knotwork; the term is useful for discussing formal structures like the villanelle or sestina, where repeating elements interlace throughout the poem, gaining new resonance with each recurrence; instructors might explore how interlacing imagery in multilingual or multicultural poetry reflects the complex intersection of different linguistic or cultural traditions within a single work.