lime

views updated May 18 2018

lime1 / līm/ • n. (also quick·lime) a white caustic alkaline substance consisting of calcium oxide, obtained by heating limestone. ∎  (also slaked lime) a white alkaline substance consisting of calcium hydroxide, made by adding water to quicklime. ∎  (in general use) any of a number of calcium compounds, esp. calcium hydroxide, used as an additive to soil or water. ∎ archaic birdlime.• v. [tr.] 1. treat (soil or water) with lime to reduce acidity and improve fertility or oxygen levels. ∎  [often as adj.] (limed) give (wood) a bleached appearance by treating it with lime: limed oak dining furniture.2. archaic catch (a bird) with birdlime.DERIVATIVES: lim·y / ˈlīmē/ adj. (lim·i·er, lim·i·est) .lime2 • n. 1. a rounded citrus fruit similar to a lemon but greener, smaller, and with a distinctive acid flavor. 2. (also lime tree) the evergreen citrus tree (Citrus aurantifolia) that produces this fruit, widely cultivated in warm climates. 3. a bright light green color like that of a lime.lime3 (also lime tree) • n. another term for linden, esp. the European linden.

lime

views updated May 23 2018

lime. When limestone is burned it produces quicklime (calcium oxide), which, when slaked with water, becomes calcium hydroxide. Limeis the chief ingredient of mortar, plaster,stucco, etc.

Bibliography

W. Papworth (1852)

lime

views updated May 29 2018

lime The fruit of Citrus aurantifolia, cultivated almost solely in the tropics, since it is less hardy than other citrus fruits. Used to prevent scurvy in the British Navy (replacing, at the time, lemon juice) and so giving rise to the nickname of ‘Limeys’ for British sailors and for British people in general. Contains about 10–20 mg vitamin C per 100 g fruit or fresh juice.

lime

views updated Jun 08 2018

lime Any of the deciduous linden trees that grow throughout Earth's n temperate zone. The lime tree has serrated, heart-shaped leaves with small, fragrant, yellowish flowers borne in clusters. The common British linden, Tilia vulgaris, is one of three British species. The American lime, T. americana, is also called basswood. Family Tiliaceae.

lime

views updated May 23 2018

lime
1. See CITRUS

2. (linden) See TILIA.

3. Compounds mostly of calcium carbonates, but also other basic (alkaline) substances, used to correct soil acidity and occasionally as a fertilizer to supply magnesium.

lime

views updated Jun 08 2018

lime1 birdlime; mortar, cement; calcium oxide. OE. līm, corr. to MDu., OHG. līm (Du. lijm, G. leim), ON. lím; f. Gmc. *līm-, var. of *laim- LOAM, ult. rel. to L. līmus.
Hence vb. XIII.

lime

views updated May 29 2018

lime
1. The fruit of Citrus aurantifolia.

2. (linden) The common name for trees of the genus Tilia.

3. Compounds mostly of calcium carbonates, but also other basic (alkaline) substances, used to correct soil acidity and occasionally as fertilizers to supply magnesium.

lime

views updated Jun 27 2018

lime Small tropical tree (Citrus aurantifolia) of the rue family (Rutaceae). The trees grow to 2.4–4.6m (8–15ft) tall and yield small green acid fruits. The juice was a valuable commodity in the 18th and 19th centuries for consumption on long sea voyages; the vitamin C helped to ward off scurvy.

lime

views updated Jun 08 2018

lime3 linden. XVII. unexpl. alt. of line, var. of lind (see LINDEN).

lime

views updated Jun 27 2018

lime2 kind of citrus fruit. XVII. — F. — modPr. limo, Sp. lima — Arab. līma, coll. līm fruits of the citron kind.