lime — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Any inorganic material containing calcium, usually calcium oxide (quicklime) or calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Lime, which is the product of the burning of chalk or limestone, might be bought ready burnt, or it could be burnt in kilns specially constructed in the neighbourhood of the building operations.

2. Any gluey or adhesive substance that traps or captures; sometimes a synonym for birdlime.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Poetic
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and away with the rest.

   Like the lime which foolish birds are caught with.

3. A limelight; any spotlight.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Sellers moved on until he was actually trusted to operate the limes, the spotlights that can make or destroy an artist's act.

   More examples (1)

   Then out of the blue, a spotlight much like the “limes” in a theatre, lit up what seemed like a Punch and Judy tent […] He struggled even more, when from out of the shadows and into the bright light of the limes, stepped Uncle Jolly.

Verb

1. To treat with calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide (lime).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   If I were you, I'd lime.

2. To smear with birdlime.

   Usage

   • Transitive

3. To smear with birdlime. To ensnare, catch, entrap.

   Usage

   • Rare
   • Transitive

   Examples

   URSULA. She's lim'd, I warrant you: we have caught her, madam. HERO. If it prove so, then loving goes by haps: Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.

   Abraham, like his parents, seemed to have been limed and caught by the ensnaring inn.

4. To apply limewash.

   Usage

   • Transitive

Noun

1. A deciduous tree of the genus Tilia, especially Tilia × europaea; the linden tree.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The linden or lime tree is the favourite haunt of the Elves and cognate beings; and it is not safe to be near it after sunset.

   More examples (1)

   But there was nothing of an ascetic's expression in her bright full eyes, as she looked before her, not consciously seeing, but absorbing into the intensity of her mood, the solemn glory of the afternoon with its long swathes of light between the far-off rows of limes, whose shadows touched each other.

2. The wood of this tree.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. Any of several green citrus fruit, somewhat smaller and sharper-tasting than a lemon.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. Any of the trees that bear limes, especially Key lime, Citrus aurantiifolia.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. Any of several brilliant, sometimes yellowish, green colours associated with the fruits of a lime tree.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   lime green

4. Any of several brilliant, sometimes yellowish, green colours associated with the fruits of a lime tree. A particular one of those colours that has been standardized under this name, at least in some organizations' standards.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. A fan fiction story which contains sexual references, but stops short of full, explicit descriptions of sexual activity (coined by analogy with lemon).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Slang
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   WARNING: This is a lime. While it does not show explicit sex, as a lemon would, references to sexual situations abound.

   Even with all the sex in Garden of EVA, I still think the main stories are better for just being the lemon-scented limes that they are.

   More examples (1)

   I have no intention of writing any lemon scenes, limes are possibilities but unlikely and if they occur they will be few in number.

Adjective

1. Containing lime or lime juice.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

2. Having the aroma or flavor of lime.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

3. Lime-green.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

Verb

1. To hang out or socialize in an informal, relaxed environment, especially with friends, for example at a party or on the beach.

   Usage

   • Barbados
   • Caribbean
   • Trinidad-and-Tobago
   • Informal

Noun

1. A casual gathering to socialize.

   Usage

   • Caribbean

Noun

1. a caustic substance produced by heating limestone

   Synonyms

   calcium hydroxideslaked limehydrated limecalcium hydratecaustic limelime hydrate

   Broader terms

   hydroxidehydrated oxide

2. a white crystalline oxide used in the production of calcium hydroxide

   Synonyms

   calcium oxidequicklimecalxcalcined limefluxing limeunslaked limeburnt lime

   Broader terms

   oxide

3. a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds

   Synonyms

   birdlime

   Broader terms

   adhesive materialadhesive agentadhesive

4. any of various related trees bearing limes

   Synonyms

   lime treeCitrus aurantifolia

   Broader terms

   citruscitrus tree

5. 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

   Synonyms

   lindenlinden treebasswoodlime tree

   Broader terms

   tree

6. the green acidic fruit of any of various lime trees

   Broader terms

   citruscitrus fruitcitrous fruit

Verb

1. spread birdlime on branches to catch birds

   Synonyms

   birdlime

   Broader terms

   spreadscatterspread out

2. cover with lime so as to induce growth

   Broader terms

   cover

   Examples

   lime the lawn