lime
Pronunciation: (līm), [key]
— n., v., limed, lim•ing.
—n.
- Also calleda white or grayish-white, odorless, lumpy, very slightly water-soluble solid, CaO, that when combined with water forms calcium hydroxideobtained 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.
- a calcium compound for improving crops grown in soils deficient in lime.
- birdlime.
—v.t.
- to treat (soil) with lime or compounds of calcium.
- to smear (twigs, branches, etc.) with birdlime.
- to catch with or as if with birdlime.
- to paint or cover (a surface) with a composition of lime and water; whitewash: The government buildings were freshly limed.
lime
Pronunciation: (līm), [key]
— n.
- the small, greenish-yellow, acid fruit of a citrus tree, Citrus aurantifolia, allied to the lemon.
- the tree that bears this fruit.
- greenish yellow.
—adj.
- of the color lime.
- of or made with limes.
lime
Pronunciation: (līm), [key]
— n.
- the European linden, Tilia europaea.
lime
Pronunciation: (līm), [key]
— n. Informal.
- limelight.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.