lime Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
    calcium hydroxide; calcium hydrate; caustic lime; slaked lime; hydrated lime; lime hydrate.
  2. noun a white crystalline oxide used in the production of calcium hydroxide
    calx; quicklime; fluxing lime; unslaked lime; burnt lime; calcined lime; calcium oxide.
  3. noun a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds
    birdlime.
  4. noun any of various related trees bearing limes
    Citrus aurantifolia; lime tree.
  5. 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
    linden; linden tree; lime tree; basswood.
  6. noun the green acidic fruit of any of various lime trees
  7. verb spread birdlime on branches to catch birds
    birdlime.
  8. verb cover with lime so as to induce growth
    • lime the lawn

WordNet

Lime noun
Etymology
See Leam a string.
Definitions
  1. A thong by which a dog is led; a leash. Halliwell.
Lime noun
Etymology
Formerly line, for earlier lind. See Linden.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) The linden tree. See Linden.
Lime noun
Etymology
F. lime; of Persian origin. See Lemon.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) 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 noun
Etymology
AS. lim; akin to D. lijm, G. leim, OHG. lim, L. limus mud, linere to smear, and E. loam. . Cf. Loam, Liniment.
Definitions
  1. Birdlime.
    Like the lime That foolish birds are caught with. Wordsworth.
  2. (Chem.) 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 ✍ Lime is the principal constituent of limestone, marble, chalk, bones, shells, etc.
Lime transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. AS. geliman to glue or join together. See Lime a viscous substance.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Limed ; present participle & verbal noun Liming
Definitions
  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. Lime, lime-colored. adj. having a yellowish-green color like that of the lime. -- n. the lime color.

Webster 1913