lime

1
[ lahym ]
See synonyms for: limelimedlimesliming on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. greenish yellow.

adjective
  1. of the color lime.

  2. of or made with limes.

Origin of lime

1
First recorded in 1615–25; from Spanish lima, from Arabic līmah, līm “citrus fruit,” from Persian līmū(n); cf. lemon

Other words from lime

  • limelike, adjective

Other definitions for lime (2 of 4)

lime2
[ lahym ]

noun
  1. Also called burnt lime, calcium oxide, caustic lime, calx, quicklime. 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.

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.

  1. to catch with or as if with birdlime.

  2. to paint or cover (a surface) with a composition of lime and water; whitewash: The government buildings were freshly limed.

Origin of lime

2
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

Other words from lime

  • limeless, adjective
  • limelike, adjective
  • un·limed, adjective

Other definitions for lime (3 of 4)

lime3
[ lahym ]

noun
  1. the European linden, Tilia europaea.

Origin of lime

3
First recorded in 1615–25; unexplained variant of obsolete line, lind, Middle English, Old English lind; see linden

Other definitions for lime (4 of 4)

lime4
[ lahym ]

nounInformal.
  1. a shortened form of limelight.

Origin of lime

4
Shortened form

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lime in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lime (1 of 4)

lime1

/ (laɪm) /


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

verb(tr)
  1. to spread (twigs, etc) with birdlime

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

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

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

Origin of lime

1
Old English līm; related to Icelandic līm glue, Latin līmus slime

British Dictionary definitions for lime (2 of 4)

lime2

/ (laɪm) /


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

    • the fruit of this tree, having acid fleshy pulp rich in vitamin C

    • (as modifier): lime juice

adjective
  1. having the flavour of lime fruit

Origin of lime

2
C17: from French, from Provençal, from Arabic līmah

British Dictionary definitions for lime (3 of 4)

lime3

/ (laɪm) /


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

Origin of lime

3
C17: changed from obsolete line, from Old English lind linden

British Dictionary definitions for lime (4 of 4)

lime4

/ (laɪm) /


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

Origin of lime

4
of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for lime

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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.