lid

[lid]

noun

1. a removable or hinged cover for closing the opening, usually at the top, of a pot, jar, trunk, etc.; a movable cover.

2. an eyelid.

3. a restraint, ceiling, or curb, as on prices or news.

4. Slang.,  a hat, cap, or other head covering.

5. (in mosses)

   1. the cover of the capsule; operculum.

   2. the upper section of a pyxidium.

6. Slang.,  one ounce of marijuana.

verb (used with object)

lidded, lidding 

1. to supply or cover with a lid.

lid

/ lɪd /

noun

1. a cover, usually removable or hinged, for a receptacle

   a saucepan lid

   a desk lid

2. short for eyelid

3. botany another name for operculum

4. slang,  short for skidlid

5. old-fashioned,  a quantity of marijuana, usually an ounce

6. informal,  to raise one's hat as a greeting, etc

7. slang,  to become crazy or angry

8. informal

   1. to be the final blow to

   2. to curb, prevent, or discourage

9. informal,  to make startling or spectacular revelations about

Other Word Forms

• lidded adjective
• sublid noun
• underlid noun
• unlidded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lid¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English hlid; cognate with Dutch, German lid, Old Norse hlith gate, gateway

Word History and Origins

Origin of lid¹

Old English hlid; related to Old Friesian hlid, Old High German hlit cover

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow / flip one's lid, to lose control, especially to rage hysterically: Also flip one's wig.

   He nearly flipped his lid over the way they damaged his car.

2. blow the lid off, to expose to public view, especially to reveal something scandalous, illegal, etc.

see blow the lid off; flip one's lid; put the lid on.

Example Sentences

That extra cost is likely to put a lid on wage increases for the company’s workers, O’Connor said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The incident happened during a weekend in which McLaren's attempts to keep a lid on the tension between their drivers and let them race has been the focus of attention.

Read more on BBC

Could that help put a lid on prices?

Read more on MarketWatch

But that sulphur also formed tiny, Sun-reflecting particles in the atmosphere, known as aerosols, which helped to keep a lid on rising temperatures.

Read more on BBC

But our country—and in the long run, even you—will be better off if you put a lid on it.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• cap 
• roof