lime 1
— limeless , adj. — limelike , adj.
/luym/ , n. , v. , limed, liming .
n.
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.
v.t.
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.
[ bef. 900; ME, OE lim; c. D lijm, G Leim, ON lim glue, L limus slime; akin to LOAM ]
lime 2
— limeless , adj. — limelike , adj.
/luym/ , n.
1. the small, greenish-yellow, acid fruit of a citrus tree, Citrus aurantifolia, allied to the lemon.
2. the tree that bears this fruit.
3. greenish yellow.
adj.
4. of the color lime.
5. of or made with limes.
[ 1615-25; lima limah, lim citrus fruit
limu ( n ); cf. LEMON ]
lime 3
/luym/ , n.
the European linden, Tilia europaea.
[ 1615-25; unexplained var. of obs. line, lind, ME, OE lind. See LINDEN ]
lime 4
/luym/ , n. Informal.
limelight.
[ shortened form ]