lime

/laim/
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lime

A bartender slices a lime for a refreshing drink.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A small, round, green citrus fruit with a sour, acidic flavor: This is the most common meaning, referring to the fruit used in cooking and drinks.
    • A deciduous tree of the genus Tilia: A type of tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers, also known as a linden or basswood tree.
    • A calcium-containing inorganic material: This refers to various compounds containing calcium, often derived from limestone. Quicklime (calcium oxide) and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) are common forms.
    • A sticky adhesive substance: A viscous material traditionally smeared on branches to trap small birds.

  2. Verb:

    • To treat with lime (the calcium compound): To apply lime to soil to reduce acidity or to a substance for processing.
    • To catch with birdlime: To trap birds using the sticky adhesive called birdlime.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (Fruit):
    • She squeezed a fresh lime into her glass of water.
    • The recipe calls for the zest of one lime.
  • Noun (Tree):
    • We sat in the shade of an old lime tree.
    • The lime trees were in bloom, filling the air with fragrance.
  • Noun (Calcium compound):
    • The farmers added lime to the field to improve the soil pH.
    • The process involves heating limestone to produce lime.
  • Verb (Treat with lime):
    • It is important to lime the lawn in the fall.
    • The hides were limed as part of the tanning process.
Advanced Usage
  • "In the lime": This is not a standard idiom for this word. The common idiom is "in the limelight" (meaning the center of attention), which is related to a historical type of stage lighting using lime (calcium oxide), but "limelight" is a distinct compound word.
  • Technical/Industrial Context: In chemistry and industry, "lime" specifically refers to calcium oxide (CaO, quicklime) or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂, slaked lime).
Variants and Related Words
  • Limestone (n): A sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate, from which lime is produced.
  • Birdlime (n): The sticky adhesive made from holly bark or other substances, used for catching birds.
  • Linden (n): Another name for the tree, often used interchangeably with "lime tree" in this botanical sense.
  • Key lime (n): A specific, smaller, and more aromatic variety of lime fruit.
  • Limelight (n): A focus of public attention (historically from a type of stage light that used heated lime).
Synonyms
  • For the fruit: Citrus fruit (specific type).
  • For the Tilia tree: Linden, basswood.
  • For the calcium compound: Quicklime (calcium oxide), slaked lime (calcium hydroxide).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
  • Lime up: This is not a standard phrasal verb. The action is typically expressed as "to lime" something (e.g., to lime a field).
Related Idioms
  • "In the limelight": To be the center of public attention. (Note: This idiom uses the compound word "limelight," not the standalone word "lime").
    • After winning the award, the young actor found himself in the limelight.
lime

A bartender slices a lime for a refreshing drink.

Noun
  1. the green acidic fruit of any of various lime trees
  2. 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
  3. any of various related trees bearing limes
  4. a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds
  5. a white crystalline oxide used in the production of calcium hydroxide
  6. a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
Verb
  1. cover with lime so as to induce growth
    • lime the lawn
  2. spread birdlime on branches to catch birds

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