/ laɪm; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(also quick·lime ) [ U ] a white substance obtained by heating limestone , used in building materials and to help plants grow
2.
[ C , U ] a small green fruit, like a lemon, with a lot of sour juice, used in cooking and in drinks; the juice of this fruit :
lime juice
slices of lime
3.
(also ˈlime tree ) [ C ] a tree on which limes grow
4.
(also ˈlime tree , ˈlinden tree , linden ) [ C ] a large tree with light green heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers :
an avenue of limes
5.
[ U ] = lime green
■ verb
[ vn ] to add the substance lime to soil, especially in order to control the acid in it
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WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 and verb Old English līm , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lijm , German Leim , also to loam .
noun senses 2 to 3 mid 17th cent.: from French , from modern Provençal limo , Spanish lima , from Arabic līma ; compare with lemon .
sense 4 early 17th cent.: alteration of obsolete line , from Old English lind lime tree .