lime

¹ American  

[lahym] / laɪm /

noun

1. the European linden, Tilia europaea.

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lime ² American  

[lahym] / laɪm /

noun

Informal.

1. a shortened form of limelight.

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lime ³ American  

[lahym] / laɪm /

noun

1. Also called caustic lime,.  Also called calcium oxide.  Also called calx, quicklime.  Also called burnt lime;.  a white or grayish-white, odorless, lumpy, very slightly water-soluble solid, CaO, that when combined with water forms calcium hydroxide slaked lime, obtained from calcium carbonate, limestone, or oyster shells: used chiefly in mortars, plasters, and cements, in bleaching powder, and in the manufacture of steel, paper, glass, and various chemicals of calcium.

2. a calcium compound for improving crops grown in soils deficient in lime.

3. birdlime.

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verb (used with object)

limed, liming

1. to treat (soil) with lime or compounds of calcium.

2. to smear (twigs, branches, etc.) with birdlime.

3. to catch with or as if with birdlime.

4. to paint or cover (a surface) with a composition of lime and water; whitewash.

   The government buildings were freshly limed.

lime ⁴ American  

[lahym] / laɪm /

noun

1. the small, greenish-yellow, acid fruit of a citrus tree, Citrus aurantifolia, allied to the lemon.

2. the tree that bears this fruit.

3. greenish yellow.

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adjective

1. of the color lime.

2. of or made with limes.

lime ¹ British  

/ laɪm /

noun

1. short for quicklime birdlime slaked lime

2. agriculture any of certain calcium compounds, esp calcium hydroxide, spread as a dressing on lime-deficient land

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verb

1. to spread (twigs, etc) with birdlime

2. to spread a calcium compound upon (land) to improve plant growth

3. to catch (animals, esp birds) with or as if with birdlime

4. to whitewash or cover (a wall, ceiling, etc) with a mixture of lime and water ( limewash )

lime ² British  

/ laɪm /

noun

1. any linden tree, such as Tilia europaea, planted in many varieties for ornament

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lime ³ British  

/ laɪm /

noun

1. a small Asian citrus tree, Citrus aurantifolia, with stiff sharp spines and small round or oval greenish fruits

2. 1. the fruit of this tree, having acid fleshy pulp rich in vitamin C

   2. ( as modifier )

      lime juice

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adjective

1. having the flavour of lime fruit

lime ⁴ British  

/ laɪm /

verb

1. slang (intr) (of young people) to sit or stand around on the pavement

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lime Scientific  

/ līm /

1. A white, lumpy, caustic powder made of calcium oxide sometimes mixed with other chemicals. It is made industrially by heating limestone, bones, or shells. Lime is used as an industrial alkali, in waste treatment, and in making glass, paper, steel, insecticides, and building plaster. It is also added to soil to lower its acidity.

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Other Word Forms

• limeless adjective
• limelike adjective
• unlimed adjective

Etymology

Origin of lime¹

First recorded in 1615–25; unexplained variant of obsolete line, lind, Middle English, Old English lind; linden

Origin of lime¹

Shortened form

Origin of lime¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English līm; cognate with Dutch lijm, German Leim, Old Norse līm “glue,” Latin līmus “slime”; akin to loam

Origin of lime¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Spanish lima, from Arabic līmah, līm “citrus fruit,” from Persian līmū(n); lemon

Example Sentences

How about a grilled salmon salad with lime, chiles and herbs, complete with a dipping sauce-inspired dressing?

From Salon

Guacamole — made from mashed avocados, salt and lime juice — is a “game-day staple,” according to Avocados From Mexico, a nonprofit marketing organization.

From MarketWatch

But when asked how she'd found the transition from the lime green, Brat summer vibe of her award-winning album to the darker themes of this film, she lit up.

From BBC

I was addicted to reading the food scenes—the Christmas feast that the March girls bring to the Hummels, the illicit pickled limes Amy sucks on at school.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its popular “Founder” drink named for and created by Tanner is Diet Coke mixed with sugar-free coconut syrup, lime and coconut cream.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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• pollinate
• propagate