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 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.

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

³

[lahym]

noun

Informal.

1. a shortened form of limelight.

lime

⁴

[lahym]

noun

1. the European linden, Tilia europaea.

lime

¹

/ laɪm /

noun

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

lime

²

/ laɪm /

verb

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

lime

³

/ 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

⁴

/ 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

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 Word Forms

• limelike adjective
• limeless adjective
• unlimed 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

Shortened form

Origin of lime⁴

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lime¹

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

Origin of lime²

of unknown origin

Origin of lime³

C17: from French, from Provençal, from Arabic līmah

Origin of lime⁴

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

Example Sentences

As a late birthday present, Grandma had hand-sewn me a dashiki that was lime green and royal blue—my favorite colors.

Read more on Literature

A number of smoke-producing lime pots, designed to be thrown onto the deck of an attacking vessel as well as to prevent the Mary Rose from being boarded were also salvaged.

Read more on Literature

Bernardo Bravo, a leader of lime producers in the same region, had also been shot dead in late October.

Read more on Barron's

Or take a bright yuzu marmalade: pair it with black sesame seeds, flaked coconut, a drizzle of coconut cream, a swirl of tahini, and a scatter of lime zest.

Read more on Salon

“You put the lime in the coconut and drink ‘em both up…”

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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• enrich 
• germinate 
• impregnate 
• inseminate 
• mulch 
• pollinate 
• propagate