LIME

lime

(noun) the green acidic fruit of any of various lime trees

linden, linden tree, basswood, lime, lime tree

(noun) any of various deciduous trees of the genus Tilia with heart-shaped leaves and drooping cymose clusters of yellowish often fragrant flowers; several yield valuable timber

lime, lime tree, Citrus aurantifolia

(noun) any of various related trees bearing limes

birdlime, lime

(noun) a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds

lime

(verb) cover with lime so as to induce growth; “lime the lawn”

birdlime, lime

(verb) spread birdlime on branches to catch birds

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

lime (countable and uncountable, plural limes)

(chemistry) Any inorganic material containing calcium, usually calcium oxide (quicklime) or calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).

(poetic) Any gluey or adhesive substance; something which traps or captures someone; sometimes a synonym for birdlime.

Verb

lime (third-person singular simple present limes, present participle liming, simple past and past participle limed)

(transitive) To treat with calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide (lime).

(transitive) To smear with birdlime.

(rare) To ensnare, catch, entrap.

(transitive) To apply limewash.

Etymology 2

Noun

lime (plural limes)

A deciduous tree of the genus Tilia, especially Tilia × europaea; the linden tree, or its wood.

Usage notes

Both this and the citrus are trees with fragrant flowers, but this is more temperate and the citrus is more tropical and subtropical. Outside of Europe and adjoining parts of Asia, the citrus sense is much more common

Etymology 3

Noun

lime (plural limes)

Any of several green citrus fruit, somewhat smaller and sharper-tasting than a lemon.

Any of the trees that bear limes, especially Key lime, Citrus aurantiifolia.

A brilliant, sometimes yellowish, green colour associated with the fruits of a lime tree.

(fandom) A fan fiction story which contains sexual references, but stops short of full, explicit descriptions of sexual activity (coined by analogy with lemon).

Usage notes

Both this and the linden are trees with fragrant flowers, but the linden is more temperate and this is more tropical and subtropical. Outside of Europe and adjoining parts of Asia, this sense is much more common.

Adjective

lime (not comparable)

Containing lime or lime juice.

Having the aroma or flavor of lime.

Lime-green.

Etymology 4

Verb

lime (third-person singular simple present limes, present participle liming, simple past and past participle limed)

(West Indies) To hang out/socialize in an informal, relaxed environment, especially with friends, for example at a party or on the beach.

Etymology 5

Noun

lime (plural limes)

Alternative form of lyam (a leash)

Anagrams

• Elmi, Emil, Imel, Lemi, Liem, Meli, mile

Source: Wiktionary


Lime, n. Etym: [See Leam a string.]

Definition: A thong by which a dog is led; a leash. Halliwell.

Lime, n. Etym: [Formerly line, for earlier lind. See Linden.] (Bot.)

Definition: The linden tree. See Linden.

Lime, n. Etym: [F. lime; of Persian origin. See Lemon.] (Bot.)

Definition: A fruit allied to the lemon, but much smaller; also, the tree which bears it. There are two kinds; Citrus Medica, var. acida which is intensely sour, and the sweet lime (C. Medica, var. Limetta) which is only slightly sour.

Lime, n. Etym: [AS. lim; akin to D. lijm, G. leim, OHG. lim, L. limus mud, linere to smear, and E. loam. . Cf. Loam, Liniment.]

1. Birdlime. Like the lime That foolish birds are caught with. Wordsworth.

2. (Chem.)

Definition: Oxide of calcium; the white or gray, caustic substance, usually called quicklime, obtained by calcining limestone or shells, the heat driving off carbon dioxide and leaving lime. It develops great heat when treated with water, forming slacked lime, and is an essential ingredient of cement, plastering, mortar, etc.CaO

Note: Lime is the principal constituent of limestone, marble, chalk, bones, shells, etc. Caustic lime, calcium hydrate or slacked lime; also, in a less technical sense, calcium oxide or quicklime.

– Lime burner, one who burns limestone, shells, etc., to make lime.

– Lime light. See Calcium light under Calcium.

– Lime pit, a limestone quarry.

– Lime rod, Lime twig, a twig smeared with birdlime; hence, that which catches; a snare. Chaucer.

Lime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limed; p. pr. & vb. n. Liming.] Etym: [Cf. AS. geliman to glue or join together. See Lime a viscous substance.]

1. To smear with a viscous substance, as birdlime. These twigs, in time, will come to be limed. L'Estrange.

2. To entangle; to insnare. We had limed ourselves With open eyes, and we must take the chance. Tennyson.

3. To treat with lime, or oxide or hydrate of calcium; to manure with lime; as, to lime hides for removing the hair; to lime sails in order to whiten them. Land may be improved by draining, marling, and liming. Sir J. Child.

4. To cement. "Who gave his blood to lime the stones together." Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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