lime

¹

[ lahym ]

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.

adjective

1. of the color lime.
2. of or made with limes.

lime

²

[ lahym ]

noun

1. 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.

verb (used with object)

, limed, lim·ing.

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

³

[ lahym ]

noun

1. the European linden, Tilia europaea.

lime

⁴

[ lahym ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a shortened form of limelight.

lime

¹

/ 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

adjective

1. having the flavour of lime fruit

lime

²

/ laɪm /

noun

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

lime

³

/ 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

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

⁴

/ laɪm /

verb

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

lime

/ 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.

Other Words From

• limelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lime¹

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

Origin of lime²

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 lime³

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

Origin of lime⁴

Shortened form

Word History and Origins

Origin of lime¹

C17: from French, from Provençal, from Arabic līmah

Origin of lime²

C17: changed from obsolete line, from Old English lind linden

Origin of lime³

Old English līm; related to Icelandic līm glue, Latin līmus slime

Origin of lime⁴

of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Taste, and season with additional salt and lime juice, if desired.

From Washington Post

Fried and dusted with chili lime or nacho spice, they don’t taste much different from say, corn nuts or extra crispy shrimp.

From Time

Our fanciest roller features “pressure points,” lime green ribs, and costs around $35.

From Outside Online

Prior to serving, add the lime juice, then season with salt to taste.

From Outside Online

In a small bowl, combine the chicken stock, wine or water with the orange and lime juices.

From Washington Post

Think wearing yellow lipstick, lime-green nails, and a SpongeBob SquarePants jumper with no trousers.

From The Daily Beast

Some were injected with chemicals or dosed in lime for better preservation.

From The Daily Beast

At a taco truck in New York I asked how their lime stock was faring.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe all this Sturm und Drang will give birth to a new lime-lite generation of cocktails.

From The Daily Beast

The verjus gives it that hit of sour acid, which is what we generally use lime for in cocktails.

From The Daily Beast

Why not have sought out the pure white lime-rocks of the flat country, or the grey granite of the hills?

From Project Gutenberg

For instance, the Limestone Polypody is not happy unless there is a certain amount of lime present in the soil.

From Project Gutenberg

But, before they can be used for this purpose, these leaves are coated with lime made from oyster shells and then folded up.

From Project Gutenberg

The acid is extracted from the juice of the citron, the lime, and the lemon, fruits grown in Sicily and the West Indies.

From Project Gutenberg

Chloride of Lime … bad smell … bad egg … white of egg … fowl … grain … flour … flour and water … milk fluid … milk.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adhesive
• cement
• glue
• mortar
• stucco