| a soft, white, crystalline, very slightly water-soluble powder, Ca(OH)2, obtained by the action of water on lime: used chiefly in mortars, plasters, and cements. |
[lahym] 
noun, verb, limed, lim⋅ing.| 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. |
| 3. | birdlime. |
| 4. | to treat (soil) with lime or compounds of calcium. |
| 5. | to smear (twigs, branches, etc.) with birdlime. |
| 6. | to catch with or as if with birdlime. |
| 7. | to paint or cover (a surface) with a composition of lime and water; whitewash: The government buildings were freshly limed. |
| calcium hydroxide n. A soft white powder, Ca(OH)2, used in making mortar, cements, calcium salts, paints, hard rubber products, and petrochemicals. Also called slaked lime. |
| slaked lime (slākt) n. See calcium hydroxide. |
lime 2
n.
Any of various mineral and industrial forms of calcium oxide differing chiefly in water content and percentage of constituents such as silica, alumina, and iron.
See calcium oxide.
| lime (līm) Pronunciation Key
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. |
