limy

The baker's hands were limy after mixing the mortar.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Containing or covered with lime: "limy" describes something that has a significant amount of lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) or is coated with it.
   • Sticky or viscous: In some contexts, "limy" can refer to a sticky, glue-like consistency, similar to birdlime (a sticky substance used to trap birds).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The soil in this region is very limy, making it ideal for growing certain crops. (The soil contains a high proportion of lime.)
  • After the rain, the path became limy and slippery. (The path was sticky and viscous due to lime content.)

Advanced Usage

• "limy taste": a flavor characteristic of lime-containing substances.

  • The water from the well had a slightly limy taste. (The water had a chalky or mineral flavor from dissolved lime.)

• "limy residue": a deposit left after lime has dried or settled.

  • The kettle had a white, limy residue from hard water. (A chalky deposit formed by lime in the water.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lime (n): a white, caustic substance (calcium oxide) obtained by heating limestone; also a green citrus fruit.

  • The builders used lime to make mortar. (Lime is a key ingredient in construction.)

• Limestone (n): a sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate.

  • Limestone is often quarried for use in cement. (A rock rich in lime compounds.)

Synonyms

• Chalky: containing or resembling chalk (calcium carbonate).
  • The water had a chalky taste. (Similar to "limy" but specifically referring to chalk.)
• Calcareous: containing calcium carbonate; often used in scientific contexts.
  • The calcareous soil supports many plant species. (Rich in calcium compounds.)

Related Idioms

• "Limy as a birdlime": an archaic phrase meaning extremely sticky or adhesive.
  • The glue was as limy as birdlime, impossible to remove. (Very sticky, like the substance used to trap birds.)