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.

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