lime
oxford
views updated May 18 2018lime1 / 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.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
lime
oxford
views updated May 23 2018lime. 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)
A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL
lime
oxford
views updated May 29 2018lime 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.
A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER
lime
oxford
views updated Jun 08 2018lime 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.
World Encyclopedia
lime
oxford
views updated May 23 2018lime 1. See
CITRUS2. (
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.
A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY
lime
oxford
views updated Jun 08 2018lime1 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.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
lime
oxford
views updated May 29 2018lime 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.
A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY
lime
oxford
views updated Jun 27 2018lime 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.
World Encyclopedia
lime
oxford
views updated Jun 08 2018lime3 linden. XVII. unexpl. alt. of
line, var. of
lind (see
LINDEN).
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
lime
oxford
views updated Jun 27 2018lime2 kind of citrus fruit. XVII. — F. — modPr.
limo, Sp.
lima — Arab.
līma, coll.
līm fruits of the citron kind.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
